Hoplostethus occidentalis

FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
TrachichthyidaeHoplostethus occidentalisWoods1973Silvery Roughy

Hoplostethus occidentalis

Unique Characters: Dorsal fin with 4-7 spines. Lateral-line scales much larger than surrounding body scales and diamond-shaped. No spine on each lateral-line scale. No prominent spine extending beyond posterior edge of opercle. Anal-fin soft rays 8-10 (usually 9). Abdominal scutes 10-17 (usually 11-16). Upper gill rakers 5 or 6, total number of gill rakers 18-22. No widespread silvery areas on jaw, cheek, gill cover, abdomen, or lower sides.

Similar Species:

Big Roughy
Gephyroberyx darwinii

Silvery Roughy
Hoplostethus mediterraneus

Big Roughy Gephyroberyx darwinii. Dorsal fin with 8 (very rarely 7) spines. Lateral-line scales only slightly larger than surrounding body scales with a small flat triangular spine on each lateral-line scale. Prominent spine on opercle extending beyond posterior edge of opercle.

Silvery Roughy Hoplostethus mediterraneus. Dorsal fin with 4-7 spines. Lateral-line scales much larger than surrounding body scales and diamond-shaped. No spine on each lateral-line scale. No prominent spine extending beyond posterior edge of opercle. Anal-fin soft rays 9 or 10 (usually 10). Abdominal scutes 8-12 (usually 9-11). Upper gill rakers 7 or 8, total number of gill rakers 23-26. Widespread silvery areas on lower jaw, cheek, gill cover, abdomen, and flank below lateral line.

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