Oreosoma atlanticum

Members of the deep-sea and oceanic fish family Oreosomatidae, to which Oreosoma

atlanticum belongs, are deep bodied, with large eyes and a protrusible mouth. Oreos

are often found in deep waters below 500 meters over the continental slope in

most temperate (and some tropical and subtropical) waters, perhaps especially in

the Southern Hemisphere. Many Oreo species are of significant commercial value,

(athough O. atlanticum is not due to its small size) , particularly in the southern

hemisphere (around Australia and New Zealand) where deep-sea trawling is

common (Eschmeyer et al. 1983; Lowry et al. 1994).

The Ox-eyed Oreo (Oreosoma atlanticum) is found in the southeastern Atlantic and

western Indian Oceans, occurring around South Africa between 30° and 35°S, and

in the southwestern Pacific off Australia (including western and southern Australia)

and New Zealand These fish have a height approximately equal to their length (~21

cm) and have 25 or 26 large, conical, bony proturbances on the body (Goode and

Bean 1895). Ox-eyed Oreos have small horns above each eye and are grey in color

(Jordan and Evermann 1898).