Erythrocles schlegelii
Erythrocles schlegelii (Richardson, 1846)
Japanese rubyfish
Erythrocles schlegelii
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Emmelichthyidae (Rovers)
Max. size:  72 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 8 years
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 100 - 500 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Japan (type locality), Korea, Natal (South Africa), Kenya and Gulf of Oman. Reported from the central South China Sea (Ref. 33669).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Bluish grey dorsally, silvery white with pinkish tinge below; caudal and pectoral fins reddish orange (Ref. 5325).
Biology:  Adults inhabit the continental shelf area (Ref. 5213). They feed mainly on shrimp of the family Sergistidae and also on small mesopelagic fishes of the family Myctophidae, Astronesthidae and Paralepididae (Ref. 33669). Neither anterolateral glandular groove nor venom gland is present (Ref. 57406).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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