Serrulate Whiptail

Interesting Info

• The Serrulate Whiptail is a deep-sea rattail, or grenadier, that lives in the cold, dark waters of southern Australia and New Zealand.
• Like its relatives, it has a large head, huge eyes, and a long, tapering tail that makes up most of its body length.
• The species name “serrulatus” refers to the fine serrations along some of its fin rays, a feature used to identify it from other grenadiers.
• Its body colour is greyish to brown, often darker above and lighter below, helping it blend into the dim deep-sea environment.
• It feeds mainly on small crustaceans, polychaete worms, molluscs, and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates, but will also scavenge on carrion.
• The Serrulate Whiptail has a highly sensitive lateral line system that detects vibrations and helps it navigate and hunt in total darkness.
• Like many deep-sea fish, its reproductive cycle is not well understood, but it likely spawns by releasing eggs into the open water, with larvae drifting before settling.
• Its lifespan is not precisely known, but most large grenadiers are slow-growing and can live for 20–30 years.
• Predators may include larger grenadiers, deep-sea sharks, and big benthic fishes like toothfish.
• It plays a role in deep-sea ecosystems as both predator and scavenger, helping recycle nutrients on the ocean floor.