Latin name

Careproctus catherinae

Identification

The body of Careproctus catherinae is elongated, gelatinous and without scales. The head is large compared to the body and the eyes are small. They have a thin, loose gelatinous mantle surrounding the spine. The gelatinous layer has a high water content and low protein, lipid and carbohydrate content, allowing it to support growth at low metabolic cost.

Features of fish fins

The long dorsal fin has 28-82 soft rays and the anal fin has 24-76 soft rays. The dorsal and anal fins merge or almost merge with the caudal fin. The pelvic fins are modified to form a rounded sucker.

Fish colouring

The body colour is monotonous.

Distribution

This fish species has only been found in the Southern Ocean in the Ross Sea.

Habitat

A deep-sea marine species. Their habitat ranges in depth from 1,382 to 2,154 metres.

Size

Males of this species reach a maximum length of 21.6 cm, females 19.2 cm.

Behavior

This species is characterised by a high survival rate.

Food and feeding habits

Careproctus catherinae feeds on plankton.

Reproduction

They lay sticky eggs on hydroids, in the perigallic cavity of crabs and in the mantle cavity of bivalves. 

Fishing

Not of interest for commercial fishing.

Relationship with a person

Harmless.