Giant Rattail Fish

Giant Rattail Fish (Albatrossia pectoralis)

This giant rattail is more than 1 m in length. Photo credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF; Dive R1729; V14

This large rattail is found at depths between 140 and 3,500 meters, and it has been known to reach lengths of up to 2.1 meters. The oldest reported A. pectoralis was 56 years of age. Many traits of the Rattail belong to the Giant Rattail (or Giant Grenadier), as well, such as the elongated snout and distinctly pointed tail. The Giant Rattail consumes mostly squid, but other echinoderms and amphipods as well.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_grenadier
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/8435
http://www.strangeanimals.info/2011/03/giant-grenadier.html

 

An ~ 4+ft-long rat tail hangs out at the summit of Axial Seamount in the International District Hydrothermal Field. Credit:UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI;V19.
An ~ 4+ft-long rat tail hangs out at the summit of Axial Seamount in the International District Hydrothermal Field. Credit:UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI;V19.
A nearly 5 ft-long rattail eyes the ROV Jason at >5000 ft down at the summit of Axial Seamount. This solitary fish, or its friend, comes to see us each year. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; V19.
A nearly 5 ft-long rattail eyes the ROV Jason at >5000 ft down at the summit of Axial Seamount. This solitary fish, or its friend, comes to see us each year. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI; V19.
A nearly 5 ft-long rattail rests just above a lava flow on the summit of Axial Seamount, nearly a mile beneath the oceans' surface. White bacterial mats fill small cracks in the seafloor. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI;V19.
A nearly 5 ft-long rattail rests just above a lava flow on the summit of Axial Seamount, nearly a mile beneath the oceans' surface. White bacterial mats fill small cracks in the seafloor. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI;V19.
A huge rattail, ~ 5 feet in length, swims slowly in front of the ROV ROPOS near the International District Hydrothermal Field at a depth of 5000 ft beneath the ocean's surface. This area has a higher abundance of these fish than observed elsewhere in the caldera, perhaps because of the larger size of the vent field and hence food source. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1729; V15.
A huge rattail, ~ 5 feet in length, swims slowly in front of the ROV ROPOS near the International District Hydrothermal Field at a depth of 5000 ft beneath the ocean's surface. This area has a higher abundance of these fish than observed elsewhere in the caldera, perhaps because of the larger size of the vent field and hence food source. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1729; V15.
Huge, 5 ft-long rattail fish populate the area aroungd the International District Hydrothermal Field. Credit: UW/NSF/OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1838; V15.
Huge, 5 ft-long rattail fish populate the area aroungd the International District Hydrothermal Field. Credit: UW/NSF/OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1838; V15.
This giant rattail is more than 1 m in length explores the ROPOS tool basket in 2014. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1729; V14.
This giant rattail is more than 1 m in length explores the ROPOS tool basket in 2014. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1729; V14.
A huge rattail fish followed the ROV ROPOS around the International District hydrothermal field for several hours. Near the end of the dive it investigated the tool basket, with thoughts that it might get in. Photo credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive 1729; V14.  
A huge rattail fish followed the ROV ROPOS around the International District hydrothermal field for several hours. Near the end of the dive it investigated the tool basket, with thoughts that it might get in. Photo credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive 1729; V14.  
A Rattail checks out the fiber optic cable at Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1608; V13.
A Rattail checks out the fiber optic cable at Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1608; V13.
A close-up view of the underside of a rattail fish. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1601; V13.
A close-up view of the underside of a rattail fish. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1601; V13.
A rattail fish (Coryphaenoides acrolepis) is a common site at the summit of Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; Dive R1720; V14.
A rattail fish (Coryphaenoides acrolepis) is a common site at the summit of Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; Dive R1720; V14.
A Rattail fish swims over pillow basalts in the caldera of Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1603, V13.
A Rattail fish swims over pillow basalts in the caldera of Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1603, V13.
Rattail fish swims slowly in 2.4°C seawater at a depth of nearly 5000 feet beneath the ocean's surface at Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, V11.
Rattail fish swims slowly in 2.4°C seawater at a depth of nearly 5000 feet beneath the ocean's surface at Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF, V11.
A rattail fish, over a meter long, swims slowly in a collapsed zone at the summit of Axial Volcano. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, V13.
A rattail fish, over a meter long, swims slowly in a collapsed zone at the summit of Axial Volcano. Credit: NSF-OOI/UW/CSSF, V13.
A rattail fish, 1500 m water depth, investigates the ROV Jason looking at a small chimney complex by the 16 m-tall chimney called El Guapo. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, V18.
A rattail fish, 1500 m water depth, investigates the ROV Jason looking at a small chimney complex by the 16 m-tall chimney called El Guapo. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, V18.