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Bregmaceros mcclellandi Thompson, 1840 Unicorn cod |
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photo by
Gloerfelt-Tarp, T. |
| Family: | Bregmacerotidae (Codlets) | |||
| Max. size: | 9.6 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 8.5 g | |||
| Environment: | pelagic-oceanic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 2000 m, oceanodromous | |||
| Distribution: | Indian Ocean: confirmed from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. Reports from outside this area are most likely misidentifications (A.S. Harold, pers. comm., 18/08/98) and name reported from western Pacific may be a misidentification of B. pseudolanceolatus (Ref. 114229). | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 57-66; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 58-69; Vertebrae: 52-58. Body is elongate, brownish and with speckling above and silvery below. The cheek and lower head also silver. Single occipital ray long and delicate, extending to near the middle of the second dorsal fin (Ref. 46075). Pelvic fins are jugular. | |||
| Biology: | If taxonomy is correct, both onshore in brackish water and oceanic. According to larval survey, occurrence in the tropics is wide (Ref. 9902, 45075). Feed on planktonic crustaceans. Also caught with bagnets (Ref. 2872). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||