Teleostei (teleosts) >
Trachichthyiformes (Roughies) >
Trachichthyidae (Slimeheads)
Etymology: Optivus: Latin, optivus, -a-um = chosen; agrammus: Named for the absence ot stripes on the caudal fin (Greek 'a' for without and 'gramme' for line).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 40 - 320 m (Ref. 76814). Temperate
Eastern Indian Ocean: Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 76814)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 26. This species is distinguished by the following characters: 20-24 (modally 22) gill rakers; gently curved lateral profile of nape and dorsal surface of head, nearly horizontal in front of dorsal-fin origin, almost straight between eyes; broadly rounded tip of snout; 2.7-2.9 times in SL, depth of head at vertical through upper end of gill opening; snout length is 1.5-2.6 times in eye diameter; the inner row of teeth on premaxilla is noticeably longer than others; relatively short and deep caudal peduncle, depth 0. 9-1.2 in length; dorsal and anal fins are relatively low, third segmented dorsal-fin ray 3.8-4.6 times in SL, first anal-fin ray 5.6-8.2 times in SL; body color greenish brown on back, silvery below; fins almost uniformly pink, though slightly dusky tips to caudal-fin lobes lasting in recently preserved large specimens (Ref. 76814).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Gomon, M.F., 2004. Two new species of roughy (Trachichthyidae: Optivus) from coastal waters of southern Australia. Rec. Aust. Mus. 56:173-178. (Ref. 76814)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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