Tentoriceps

Tentoriceps is a monotypic genus of cutlassfish, family Trichiuridae, from the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The sole species is Tentoriceps cristatus.^[1][2][3] Its common name is crested hairtail.^[2]

Tentoriceps
Head with the "crest"
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Scombriformes
Family:	Trichiuridae
Subfamily:	Trichiurinae
Genus:	Tentoriceps Whitley, 1948[1]
Species:	T. cristatus
Binomial name
Tentoriceps cristatus (Klunzinger, 1884)
Synonyms
Trichiurus cristatus Klunzinger, 1884 Pseudoxymetopon sinensis Chu & Wu, 1962

Distribution

Tentoriceps cristatus has Indo-West Pacific distribution: it is found in the Indian Ocean (including the Red Sea) and in the Western Pacific Ocean, between the Tasman Sea and southern Japan. It is a benthopelagic to pelagic species that occurs in coastal waters 30–110 m (98–361 ft) deep, but avoids areas of low salinity.^[2][4]

Description

Typical for cutlassfishes, Tentoriceps cristatus has extremely elongate and strongly compressed, ribbon-like body, tapering to a point. The dorsal profile of head is evenly convex. It grows to a maximum length of about 90 cm (35 in) TL, but common length is 30–70 cm (12–28 in) TL.^[4]

Tentoriceps cristatus landed in Dongao, Yilan County, Taiwan

Fisheries

Tentoriceps cristatus is a minor commercial species caught mainly mixed with other cutlassfish in southeast Asian countries.^[2][4]