Animalia Life

Hoplostethus atlanticus
FAMILY
Trachichthyidae
TAXONOMY
Hoplostethus atlanticus Collett, 1889, Florйs, Azores, sta. 203, 1557 m.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Deep sea perch, red roughy, slimehead; French: Hoplostиte orange; German: Degenfisch, Granatbarsch, Kaiserbarsch; Spanish: Raloj anaranjado
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Among the largest of the beryciform fishes, and possibly the largest, with some specimens up to 29.5 in (75 cm) in length. Has vivid orange-red coloration and a slightly jutting lower jaw.
DISTRIBUTION
Disjunct populations in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters worldwide.
HABITAT
Prefers deep waters 590–5,900 ft (180–1,800 m) deep over steep or rough structures, particularly seamounts.
BEHAVIOR
Apparently sedentary rather than migratory. Remains in deep waters most of its life. Little is known about the young, but they are believed to primarily inhabit deep waters, too.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Diet is made up of small fishes, shrimps, squids, and other invertebrates. Predators include other fishes of their
HABITAT
, such as basketwork eels (Diastobranchus spp.).
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Large groups of orange roughies congregate in annual mating schools. The schools may last one to two weeks, during which mature adults (30 years old and more) spawn and then leave the area. Females produce 10,000–90,000 eggs, which are fairly large at 0.08 in (2 mm) and spherical. The eggs drift toward the surface, where they hatch about two weeks later.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Although the orange roughy is not listed by the IUCN, catches have been restricted to help ensure a continued commercial harvest.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Best known as a commercial food fish, providing millions of pounds of harvest each year. Commercial harvests are now restricted, but past annual harvests have topped 100 million pounds (45 million kg) in the waters off Australia and New Zealand.

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