| Family: |
Sternoptychidae (Marine hatchetfishes), subfamily: Sternoptychinae |
| Max. size: |
8.4 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 1 - 3872 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: occasionally between Azores and Madeira (Ref. 4739), also from Senegal to Gulf of Guinea. Western Atlantic: 30°N-30°S, including the Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 27768). Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Indian Ocean: 20°N-20°S. Eastern Pacific: 35°N-35°S. Western Pacific: 30°N-10°S. South China Sea (Ref.74511). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-14; Vertebrae: 38-41. Scales deciduous; swim bladder well developed, gas-filled, euphysoclistous; branchiostegal rays 10, 3 on epihyal; post-abdominal spines (iliac) short, equal in length; abdominal keels shallow (Ref. 4739). |
| Biology: |
An oceanic and mesopelagic species (Ref. 4739, 58302), mainly at 300-650 m (Ref. 4054), 170-500 m at night and 350-600 m during day (Ref. 58302), commonly 1-600m (Ref. 035838). May make short diel migrations (Ref. 4739). Smaller individuals feed on copepods and ostracods; larger ones feed on euphausiids, salps and chaetognaths (Ref. 4739). Adult complement of photophores acquired at about 14 mm SL (Ref. 4739). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 35838). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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