| Family: |
Gonostomatidae (Bristlemouths) |
| Max. size: |
6.6 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 50 - 1352 m |
| Distribution: |
Worldwide. Eastern Atlantic: Madeira (Ref. 4769), Canary Islands (Ref. 6808) and Cape Verde (Ref. 27000); Senegal to Gulf of Guinea (Ref. 4463). Western Atlantic and Indo-Pacific: in tropical and subtropical waters (Ref. 4463), including the Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 27768). Eastern Pacific: California Current region (Ref. 35800). South China Sea (Ref.74511). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-18; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 26-31. Dark dorsally, silvery finish on translucent flanks; fin rays colorless; black pigment at base of each dorsal and anal ray (Ref. 3991). Branchiostegal rays: 11-12 (Ref. 35800). Longer trunk and shorter tail (Ref. 37473). |
| Biology: |
Mesopelagic (Ref. 58302). Exhibit diel vertical migrations, juveniles and adults mainly at 300-600 by day and at 50-200 by night (Ref. 4463, 58302). Feed on copepods and euphausiids (Ref. 4769). Photophores developing in fishes over 12-20 mm SL (Ref. 4769). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 35800). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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