Gonorynchus gonorynchus is a species of fish in the familyGonorynchidae, found on temperate continental shelves worldwide.[1] Common names for this fish include mousefish, ratfish, sandfish, and sand eel.[2]
Gonorynchus gonorynchus inhabits the coasts of the southern third of Africa stretching from Skeleton CoasttoMozambique as well as the coasts of Australia and Japan.[1] Its range also stretches into the Eastern Pacific with specimens found off the coast of Chile.[1]
Gonorynchus gonorynchus lives in and above the seabed at depths ranging from 0–200 m. It is generally nocturnal and buries itself in the seabed during daylight hours. It has a varied diet, eating zooplankton and free-swimming and buried invertebrates.[1] The young are preyed upon by seabirds. As well adults of the species are preyed upon by juvenile South African hakes.[1]
^Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN0-00-216987-8
