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Genypterus blacodes (Forster, 1801)

Pink cusk-eel
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Genypterus blacodes   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Genypterus blacodes (Pink cusk-eel)
Genypterus blacodes
Picture by Carvalho Filho, A.

Australia country information

Common names: Banded ling, Common ling, Kingclip
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: abundant (always seen in some numbers) | Ref: Kailola, P.J., M.J. Williams, P.C. Stewart, R.E. Reichelt, A. McNee and C. Grieve, 1993
Importance: commercial | Ref: Kailola, P.J., M.J. Williams, P.C. Stewart, R.E. Reichelt, A. McNee and C. Grieve, 1993
Aquaculture: never/rarely | Ref: Kailola, P.J., M.J. Williams, P.C. Stewart, R.E. Reichelt, A. McNee and C. Grieve, 1993
Regulations: restricted | Ref: Kailola, P.J., M.J. Williams, P.C. Stewart, R.E. Reichelt, A. McNee and C. Grieve, 1993
Uses: no uses
Comments: Occurs in southern Australia, from Albany, Western Australia (Ref. 26611) to off New Castle, New South Wales; including Tasmania (Ref. 7300). Bass Strait population may have a uniform distribution based on biomass estimates (Ref. 26996, 26613). Contrary to assumptions, the difference in catchability around southern Tasmania suggested discrete stocks (Ref. 27006). The presence of a morphologically similar rock ling Genypterus tigerinus in catches and larval samples had confused analysis and identification of stocks. Pink ling have two forms: one existing on the shelf (i.e.to less than 200 m) and one in deeper slope waters. The deeper form constitutes virtually all of the South East Fishery catch. Commercial fishery: Pink ling are taken year-round by demersal otter trawlers on the continental slope. It has become an important component of the South East Fishery since the Fishery expanded onto continental slope waters. Nevertheless, only 35% of the South East Fishery catch of pink ling is targeted. Most is taken as bycatch in the Fishery, mainly by fishers targeting gemfish and blue grenadier (Ref. 26997). South East Fishery catches of pink ling come mainly from waters off New South Wales, off Victoria from Lakes Entrance to Cape Howe and the west of the State, and off north-western Tasmania (Ref. 26997, 27006). In this Fishery, pink ling are caught in depths from approximately 100 m to 650 m, mostly between 350 m and 550 m. Around Tasmania, catches for pink ling are highest in the 550-600 m depth range (Ref. 26997). Pink ling catches are a small component of trawl landings from the Great Australian Bight Trawl Fishery, with only 8 tons taken in 1989-90. Droplining and bottom set longlining methods are also employed to catch pink ling on the continental shelf and upper continental slope. Pink ling are also an incidental catch of the Southern Shark fishery which uses bottom set longlines and gillnets off Victoria (Ref. 26997). Pink ling is caught by all methods off New South Wales southwards from Ulladulla. Pink ling are probably at least 3 years old before they are caught in the trawl fishery (Ref. 6995). Average biomass of pink ling throughout the year at depths of 300 to 800 m has been estimated at 600 kg per square km in eastern Bass Strait. Compared with many other fishes harvested in the South East Fishery, pink ling have a high market value. They are marketed locally as fresh and chilled whole fish, and they are also smoked. Resource status: In 1993, the status of the resource was unclear. Indirect evidence from the commercial fishery suggested that only one-third of the pink ling catch comes from targeted fishing. Pooled length frequencies of pink ling caught by research trawls off southern New South Wales from 1975-77 to 1079-81 suggest a decrease in size (and presumably age) (Ref. 26997). However, length frequencies from the Sydney Fish Market from 1986 to 1991 showed no decline. Also Ref. 9563, 27363, 34024.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/as.html
National Fisheries Authority: http://www.csiro.au/
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Kailola, P.J., M.J. Williams, P.C. Stewart, R.E. Reichelt, A. McNee and C. Grieve, 1993
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Abadèche rosé, Congribadejo rosado, Конгрио черный, ... more

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) > Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels) > Ophidiinae
Etymology: Genypterus: Greek, geny, -yos = face, jaw + Greek, pteron, = wing, fin (Ref. 45335).
  More on author: Forster.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; bathydemersal; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 22 - 1000 m (Ref. 58489), usually 300 - 550 m (Ref. 6390).   Deep-water; 17°S - 57°S, 114°E - 30°W (Ref. 34024)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Southwest Pacific: southern Australia and around New Zealand. Southeast Pacific: Chile (Ref. 9068). Southwest Atlantic: Brazil (Ref. 4517).

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm 72.0  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 200 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 34024); common length : 100.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9258); max. published weight: 25.0 kg (Ref. 34024); max. reported age: 46 years (Ref. 128769)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 141 - 164; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 101 - 126; Vertebrae: 68 - 70. Body pinkish yellow, marbled with irregular reddish brown blotches dorsally (Ref. 27363).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Common species (Ref. 34024). Found between depths of 22 m (Ref. 58489) and 1000 m (Ref. 33848). Feed mainly on crustaceans such as Munida and scampi and also on fish. Also caught above the bottom when feeding on hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) during the hoki spawning season. Available all year round. Juveniles are found in shallower shelf waters (Ref. 6390). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205). Utilized fresh, frozen or smoked; can be fried and baked (Ref. 9988, 34024).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins, 1999. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Not Evaluated 

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless




Human uses

Fisheries: highly commercial
FAO(Fisheries: production, species profile; publication : search) | FIRMS (Stock assessments) | FishSource | Sea Around Us

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Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 3.3 - 12.7, mean 7.2 (based on 279 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 0.5156   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00219 (0.00131 - 0.00366), b=3.17 (3.02 - 3.32), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278):  4.2   ±0.76 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref. 120179):  Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.1-0.23; tmax=30; tm=5-7).
Prior r = 0.25, 95% CL = 0.16 - 0.37, Based on 4 full stock assessments.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  Very high vulnerability (84 of 100).
Climate Vulnerability (Ref. 125649):  Moderate vulnerability (44 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766):   Medium.