| Family: |
Chiasmodontidae (Snaketooth fishes) |
| Max. size: |
9.73 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 537 - 1164 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern South and Central Atlantic, from Middle Atlantic to off Angola; from 20º W to 12º W, 0º to 9º S. Indo-West Pacific, from off Oman to Indonesia; from 57º E to 125º E, 10º N to 5º S. |
| Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 35-36. This species of the Pseudoscopelus scriptus species group is distinguished by the unique dentition pattern of the premaxilla: mesial series in rows of 2-3 teeth, with first and second teeth much smaller than innermost tooth (vs. single row in P. pierbartus and P. obtusifrons; and teeth gradually increasing in size in P. cephalus, P. sagamianus, and P. scriptus). It is further distinguished from P. scriptus with anal-fin photophores (or saf) extending anteriorly beyond and around anus (vs. saf not extending anteriorly to anus); from P. cephalus by vertebral count (total vertebrae 35-36, precaudal 18-19 vs. 31, 14 in P. cephalus ); from P. sagamianus by melanophores inside mouth restricted to tooth insertion region (vs. internal area of mouth and gill arches completely black) (Ref. 85782). |
| Biology: |
A meso- to bathypelagic, from 537 to 1164 m (mean 954 m) (Ref. 85782). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 12 October 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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