| Family: |
Sternoptychidae (Marine hatchetfishes), subfamily: Sternoptychinae |
| Max. size: |
5.1 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1.4 g; max. reported age: 1 years |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 2400 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: north of British Isles to South Africa, including western Mediterranean. Western Atlantic: New Jersey, USA to Argentina (Ref. 26340). Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Eastern Pacific: throughout the California Current area, seaward of the continental shelf (Ref. 35838). Known from tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans (Ref. 47377). South China Sea (Ref.74511). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 11-12; Vertebrae: 36-39. Body bright silvery in color; body and trunk with dusky coloration at night (Ref. 4054). Branchiostegal rays: 10 (Ref. 35838). |
| Biology: |
Oceanic (Ref. 4739) and mesopelagic, mainly at 250-650 m (Ref. 4054). Depth range from 100-700 m (Ref. 4462) and from 460-1082 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). Adults make marked vertical migrations (Ref. 4739). Found singly or in small groups (Ref. 4739). An opportunistic feeder at dusk on calanoid copepods, small fishes, etc (Ref. 4739). Sexual dimorphism with regard to body size (Ref. 5168), the males being slightly smaller than the females (Ref. 8966). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 35838).
Occurs between 200 and 700 m depth during the day, concentrated between 350 and 550 m, and between 100 and 650 m at night, preferring a depth between 150 and 380 m Ref. 47377). Also Ref. 58302. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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