| Family: |
Bathysauridae (Deepsea lizardfishes) |
| Max. size: |
78 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 1550 - 4903 m |
| Distribution: |
Circumglobal between latitude 50°N-20°S except tropical eastern Pacific. Eastern Atlantic: northern Ireland; Morocco to Gabon. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-17; Anal soft rays: 13-13; Vertebrae: 50-51. Moderately elongate and slender. Slightly depressed anteriorly and compressed posteriorly. Color generally white, with peritoneum, branchial and buccal regions dark. Small specimens have faint vertical bars (Ref. 37039). |
| Biology: |
Benthic (Ref. 58302). Found on the continental rise and the abyss, commonly below 2,000 m, in water colder than 4°C. Larvae are probably pelagic in near-surface midwaters. Solitary, lurking bottom feeder. Probably piscivore (Ref. 4964). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
