| Family: |
Sternoptychidae (Marine hatchetfishes), subfamily: Sternoptychinae |
| Max. size: |
5.5 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 6.9 g |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 400 - 3676 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: mainly tropical regions (Ref. 47377). Eastern Atlantic: scattered records southwest of Ireland, also from Spain south to Angola. South China Sea and East China Sea (Ref.74511). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-16. Triangular transparent membrane present above anal fin base (Ref. 13608). |
| Biology: |
Oceanic and non-vertical migrant (Ref. 4739). Mesopelagic at 275-1200 m (Ref. 58302). Commonly found in 500-800 m both day and night (Ref. 4054). Possibly a cyclic feeder of copepods, ostracods, euphausiids, amphipods, fishes and other taxa (Ref. 4739). Adult photophore complement acquired at 11-13 mm SL (Ref. 4739). Lipid content 1.4 % in fresh body weight and wax ester is 4.2 % in total lipids (Ref. 9193). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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