© Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia Full citation Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia: Volume 1 - Bony and Cartilaginous Fishes. Report for the South Australian Working Group for Marine Species of Conservation Concern. J. Baker (consultant); Science and Conservation Division, and Coast and Marine Conservation branches of S.A. Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH); Marine and Coastal Community Network of S.A. (MCCN), and Threatened Species Network (TSN). Web version published by Reef Watch, South Australia.

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TRACHICHTHYIDAE:  ROUGHIES AND SAWBELLIES

© Rudie Kuiter

The Trachichthyidae is a family of marine fishes distributed in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. The number of species known in the family has increased in recent years. In 2007, 8 genera and at least 46 species were recognised (Gomon, in Gomon, 2004; CSIRO, 2007; Froese and Pauly, 2007). The family contains some very deep water fishes, including species found 1.5km below the surface.
Fish in the Trachichthyidae are compressed and deep-bodied, with a large bony head and a series of prominent, keel-like scales (“scutes”) on the belly (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994). A number of species are bioluminescent (Nelson, 1994, cited by Froese and Pauly, 2007). The head of these fishes is covered by large, shallow to deep, mucus-filled cavities (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994).
Members of 7 genera occur along the south coast of Australia (Gomon, in Gomon et al., 1994). There are about 17 species in Australian waters (CSIRO, 2007), including the commercial species Orange Roughy Hoplostethus atlanticus, and a number other roughy and sawbelly species, most of which occur in deep waters of the outer continental shelf and continental slope (CSIRO, 2007). The Orange Roughy is a long lived, slow growing, commercial fish species of high conservation concern in southern Australia (see Pogonoski et al., 2002), but is not included in a synopsis below, because it is a deep-water species that does not occur in South Australian State waters.
Two species which occur in shallow waters, the Southern Roughy Trachichthys australis and the Sandpaper Fish Paratrachichthys macleayi, are not included below due to their broad geographic range across southern Australia, apparent abundance, and lack of known threatening processes.  Three lesser known species are discussed below.

Associated taxa

Golden Roughy	Aulotrachichthys pulsator Gomon and Kuiter, 1987 = Paratrachichthys pulsator
Little Pineapple Fish / Little Pineapplefish	Sorosichthys ananassa Whitley, 1945
Western Roughy	Optivus agrammus Gomon, 2004