Coryphaenoides rupestris Gunnerus, 1765
Round nose grenadier
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The species Coryphaenoides rupestris of the family Macrouridae has been recorded in the Atlantic from the Bay of Biscay northward to the Trondheim area, westward to the Faeroes, off southern Iceland and south western Greenland, and in the western North Atlantic. They are considered benthopelagic and have been found at depths from 400 to 1,500 meters, shoaling on the continental slope in waters of 3-8 °C. Occasionally they have been caught at mid-depths (Whitehead et al., 1986a).
The head of Coryphaenoides rupestris is fairly short and compressed, and the snout is short and rounded, hence it's common name of round nose grenadier. The mouth is large and inferior (Whitehead et al., 1986a).
During the present survey Coryphaenoides rupestris was recorded just past the Darwin Mounds and in the Porcupine Seabight. It was observed resting on the seabed and did not appear to be disturbed by the presence of the camera. It is probable that this species was observed on other video footage and recorded as the family Macrouridae as there was difficulty in differentiating species from video footage.
Coryphaenoides rupestris is of some commercial importance.
There is more information available for this species on FishBase.
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