Ecology of Regalecus russellii
 
Main Ref. Roberts, T.R., 2012
Remarks Warmer-water distribution, within 15° of the Equator. (Ref. 92949). Large adults sometimes kill themselves by swimming out of the water onto beaches; occurrence of such strandings may be linked to certain areas, seasons or months and often in spates (Ref. 92949). Feed on euphausiid crustaceans, small fishes and squid (Ref. 6738); Euphausiidae being their main diet but possibly feed only when highly concentrated in areas of upwelling. With few predators and parasites; adaptative significance of autotomy still unknown. Occassionally associate in pairs (gender undocumented) but no record of group larger than three or of schooling behavior. Spawns in the North Pacific Ocean, in an area west of the Marianas Islands; also possibly in South Africa near Durban (Ref. 92949).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Regalecus russellii may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Roberts, T.R., 2012
Feeding habit selective plankton feeding
Feeding habit Ref. Roberts, T.R., 2012
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition
From individual food items 3.81 0.57 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.
(e.g. 346)
(e.g. oophagy)
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