Nezumia duodecim Iwamoto, 1970
Twelve-rayed grenadier
Nezumia duodecim
photo by González, J.A./ULPGC

Family:  Macrouridae (Grenadiers or rattails)
Max. size:  25 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 329 - 1261 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Southeast Atlantic: southernly into the Gulf of Guinea to Angola.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Anal spines: 0-0. Ventral leading edge of snout and narrow ventromedian strip on underside naked, head otherwise completely scaled. Scales deciduous, with small, short, conical spinules in 6 to 9 parallel rows. Overall color is brownish to bluish; trunk bluish to blackish; fins blackish; mouth dusky; gill cavities blackish.
Biology:  Apparently found deeper in the northern part of its range. Copepods (80%) and polychaetes (62%) have the highest proportions in specimens examined from the slope off northwestern Africa. Other crustaceans and a few fish formed the remainder of the diet. This species like the majority of macrourines, depends on a mixed diet of benthic and pelagic organisms (Ref. 6219).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 July 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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