The rough abyssal grenadier (Coryphaenoides yaquinae) is a
species of deep-sea
grenadier fish in the family
Macrouridae. First described as a separate species in 1974, the rough abyssal grenadier was historically confused with its
congener, Coryphaenoides armatus.[1] Unlike C. armatus, which has been recorded in the waters of the
Atlantic,
Pacific,
Indian, and
Southern oceans, observations of C. yaquinae have been confined exclusively to the Pacific ocean.[2]C. yaquinae tends to inhabit
abyssopelagic depths between 3,400 and 5,800 meters (11,200 and 19,000 ft).[1] However, observations of C. yaquinae have been made as deep as 7,000 meters (23,000 ft) below sea level.[3]
Diet and ecology
The rough abyssal grenadier is an active
benthic forager, with a diet that features a variety of seafloor
fauna.[4][5]Squids,
crustaceans, and
polychaetes comprise the most consistent sources of prey for C. yaquinae, though stomach content analyses have revealed
echinoderms,
fish, and food scavenged from
carrion.[5] The availability of these food sources varies, however, as seasonal migrations of pelagic
teleosts and changes in the rate of
phytodetritus affect the amount of organic matter that reaches the ocean floor.[6]