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Sigmops bathyphilus
Sigmops bathyphilus (Vaillant, 1884)
Spark anglemouth
Sigmops bathyphilus
photo by Orlov, A.

Family:  Gonostomatidae (Bristlemouths)
Max. size:  15 cm SL (male/unsexed); 20 cm SL (female)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 700 - 3000 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: scattered records from 65°30'N, 30°30'W (Ref. 4769) to Namibia; also off Cape Point, South Africa (Ref. 3991). Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Western Central Atlantic: between 20°N and 5°S. Austral Atlantic and Pacific: between 30° to 35°S.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-15; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 22-26. Black in color (Ref. 3991). Few enlarged teeth on the roof of the mouth. Fewer anal rays and more gill rakers. Body compressed and photophores extremely small (Ref. 37473).
Biology:  Bathypelagic (Ref. 58426). There is marked stratification of size with depth and no diel vertical migrations (Ref. 4769). Initial photophore develops at about 1.1 cm SL (Ref. 4769). Feeds on crustaceans (Ref. 58426).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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