• Question: How did the fish come to be named grenadier?

    Asked by karen-lunt to Abyssal Grenadier on 17 Nov 2017. This question was also asked by tamarakacsala.
    • Photo: Abyssal Grenadier

      Abyssal Grenadier answered on 17 Nov 2017:

      Sorry this has taken so long! This question totally stumped us and I have been on an adventure finding the answer!
      The first grenadier described was the roundnose grenadier in 1765! That’s where we first get the name. It was caught near Norway and was described in Norwegian.
      I have been asking ichthyologists (fish scientists) all over the world and the answer I got was from the head of fishes in Te Papa Museum in New Zealand (told you I looked far and wide!). The grenadiers were a type of soldier that specialised in grenades in France in the 1700’s, so would have been known to our Dr Gunner. They wore pointed hats based on the Mitre (a Biskop’s hat). The pointy hat looks like the high triangular first dorsal fin of the grenadier fish!! There we go!!!!

      Thank you so much for your question. I really enjoyed learning all that, hope you did too!

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