| Family: |
Gonostomatidae (Bristlemouths) |
| Max. size: |
27.6 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 1594 m |
| Distribution: |
Cosmopolitan. Eastern Atlantic: Portugal (Ref. 4769) south to Gulf of Guinea (Ref. 4463); Namibia and South Africa (Ref. 3991). Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Western Atlantic and Indo-Pacific: in tropical and subtropical waters. Eastern Pacific: California Current region (Ref. 35800); Chile (Ref. 9068). South China Sea (Ref.74511). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 59-72; Vertebrae: 89-99. Black-brown dorsally, flanks silver; fins colorless (Ref. 3991). Branchiostegal rays: 12-14 (Ref. 35800). Slender form, high anal-ray and photophore counts (Ref. 37473). |
| Biology: |
Mesopelagic at 15-650 m (Ref. 58302). Exhibit diel vertical migrations, juveniles and adults found at 300-800 m by day and often reach the surface at night (Ref. 4769). Early stages at 450-610m (Ref. 035800). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 35800). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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