| Family: |
Epigonidae (Deepwater cardinalfishes) |
| Max. size: |
75 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 104 years |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 75 - 1305 m |
| Distribution: |
North Atlantic: Iceland to the Canary Islands and Corner Seamounts. One specimen off North America (Ref. 7321). Southeast Atlantic, Indian and Southwest Pacific: Walvis Ridge off southwestern Africa to New Zealand. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 7-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9. No opercular spines. 8 spines on first dorsal fin (Ref. 31632). Snout blunt, eye large. Mouth large, lower jaw equaling or slightly protruding beyond upper jaw. Pyloric caeca 21-34. Brown-violet or black, iridescent in life. |
| Biology: |
Adults benthic or benthopelagic on the continental slopes; juveniles pelagic (Ref. 7321). Found on soft bottoms (Ref. 27121). Non-territorial. Carnivorous, feed on small fishes and planktonic invertebrates. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 July 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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