This species is very difficult to separate from other Atlantic grenadiers. In
order to distinguish it, the length of the second dorsal fin rays must be compared
to that of the anal fin rays. If the dorsal rays are shorter, then the specimen
is a Günther's grenadier. Other characteristic features include the number of
anal, pectoral, and dorsal fin rays, a fully scaled, upper snout and rows of large
spines on the scales of its body. The colour of preserved specimens is brown,
but the colour of living specimens is unknown. This species can reach at least
48 cm in length.
In Canada, Günther's grenadiers occur from Davis Strait south to Labrador, as
well as in the northeast Atlantic. Northern specimens were caught at 1400–1960
m, while in the south they range from 1200 to 2600m. Because of the deep water
habitat of this fish, little is known about its biology.
