Maurolicus imperatorius Parin & Kobyliansky, 1993
Emperor seamount lightfish

Family:  Sternoptychidae (Marine hatchetfishes), subfamily: Maurolicinae
Max. size:  6.8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 400 m
Distribution:  North Pacific: Known at seamounts of northwestern Pacific and Hawaiian Ridges.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 32-34. AC photophores23-26, usually 24. Head 29-33% SL, eye 9.5-11% SL, upper jaw 15.5-19% SL, maximum body depth at pectoral fin base 21-24% SL. Stomach lightly pigmented, hind portion of intestine not pigmented (Ref. 26775).
Biology:  Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Adults form dense aggregations at daytime in upper mesopelagic waters and disperses at night on the surface (Ref. 102274).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 July 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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