| Family: |
Centrolophidae (Medusafishes) |
| Max. size: |
150 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 40 - 1050 m |
| Distribution: |
North Atlantic: Nova Scotia and Grand Banks (Canada) to Massachusetts, USA (Ref. 7251). Also known from the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. Southeast Atlantic and Indian Ocean: South Africa and Australia (including New South Wales). Southwest Pacific: New Zealand. Southern Ocean. Antitropical. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 37-41; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 20-24. Dark brown to black, occasionally almost bluish; median and pelvic fins darker than body; young with 2-4 vertical bars (Ref. 4410). Snout is slightly longer than the eye diameter (Ref. 35388). |
| Biology: |
An oceanic, epipelagic or mesopelagic species (Ref. 6942). Juveniles occurring in surface waters (Ref. 4542) and associated with pelagic medusas and salps (Ref. 4410), adults found deeper (Ref. 4542). May form small schools. Appears to feed on whatever is available, small fish, squid, large pelagic crustaceans, and other plankton (Ref. 4542). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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