New Zealand macrourids of the genus Coelorinchus (Pisces: Gadiformes) with detailed descriptions of six common species and notes on aspects of their biology

Abstract

Six New Zealand species of the macrourid fish genus Coelorinchus are described and illustrated. Of these, three are presently unnamed see Addendum. (Coelorinchus spp A, B and C), and two were in need of redescription (C. aspercephalus and C. oliverianus). For the sixth, evidence is presented corroborating its conspecificity with C. fasciatus from South America. All are relatively common in upper slope waters and are frequently caught by commercial and research vessels. Most are widespread in New Zealand waters but distribution of C. aspercerphalus and C. fasciatus north of East Cape is uncertain. All except C. fasciatus are probably confined to New Zealand. A key to eleven New Zealand species of Coelorinchus, notes on the five species not dealt with in detail, plus notes on selected New Zealand macrourids are also provided. C. aspercephalus males are considerably smaller than females and there is a similar but less marked size difference in other species. Sex ratio of 8 to 1 in favour of females was observed for 450 C. aspercephalus from Pukaki Rise. Evidence of reproductive activity over sampling period January - June 1979 suggests a possibly prolonged spawning for New Zealand Coelorinchus. First record of parasitic copepod Sarcotaces from a macrourid (C. aspercephalus).