Gonorynchus gonorynchus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Gonorynchiformes |
Family: | Gonorynchidae |
Genus: | Gonorynchus |
Species: | G. gonorynchus
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Binomial name | |
Gonorynchus gonorynchus (Linnaeus, 1766)
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Synonyms | |
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Gonorynchus gonorynchus is a species of fish in the family Gonorynchidae, found on temperate continental shelves worldwide.[1] Common names for this fish include mousefish, ratfish, sandfish, and sand eel.[2]
Gonorynchus gonorynchus inhabits the coasts of the southern third of Africa stretching from Skeleton Coast to Mozambique as well as the coasts of Australia and Japan.[1] Its range also stretches into the Eastern Pacific with specimens found off the coast of Chile.[1]
Gonorynchus gonorynchus lives in and above the seabed at depths ranging from 0–200 m. It is generally nocturnal and buries itself in the seabed during daylight hours. It has a varied diet, eating zooplankton and free-swimming and buried invertebrates.[1] The young are preyed upon by seabirds. As well adults of the species are preyed upon by juvenile South African hakes.[1]