Common Name
Patagonian Grenadier-hake
Year Described
Lönnberg, 1907
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 10-13; 90-102
Anal Fin: 83-95
Pectoral Fin: 15-19
Pelvic Fin: 8
Gill Rakers: 6-8 + 21=27
Body elongate and compressed; similar to a macrourid in body shape. Rear of body strongly tapering posterior to anus. Head large. Forehead fairly straight. Snout short and blunt. Eye large. Mouth moderate, terminal and oblique. Jaw extends to middle of eye. Teeth large in both jaws (two rows in premaxilla) and on vomer (two rows). Barbels absent on chin or nostrils. Pseudobranchs absent. Dorsal fin with two parts that are clearly separated. Anterior dorsal fin triangular to rounded. Rest of fin long and low. Anal fin much shorter than dorsal both in length and ray size. Anal fin with a distinct lobe. Fins continuous at tip of tail. Rays of median fins simple. Pectoral fin short: inserts anterior to D1 and reaches barely to last ray of D1. Pelvic fin under pectoral base. Caudal fin continuous with dorsal and anal fins. Scales cycloid and tiny (up to 182 rows). Lateral line with strong anterior arch.
Color
Body silvery with a blue or greenish tint. Dark blue dorsally. Fins dusky gray to blue-gray.
Size
Maximum size to 120cm SL, but usually less than 100cm SL.
Habitat
Caught between the surface and 800m, but usually shallower. A coldwater species that is largely pelagic.
Range
Brazil to S. Argentina and the Falklands Is. Also Chile and New Zealand.
References
Lloris, D., Matallanas, J. & P. Oliver. 2005. Hakes of the World (Family Merlucciidae): an annotated and illustrated catalogue of hake species known to date (No. 2). FAO. 59p.
Olavarria C., Balbontın F., Bernal R. & C.S. Baker. 2006. Lack of divergence in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene between Macruronus species (Pisces: Merluccidae) in the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 40, 299–304.
Other Notes
Macruronus magellanicus is a synonym.