Margrethia obtusirostra Jespersen & Tåning, 1919
Bighead portholefish
photo by Dubosc, J.

Family:  Gonostomatidae (Bristlemouths)
Max. size:  8.3 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 100 - 1739 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: off Portugal south to Morocco including the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands; off Cape Agulhas, South Africa (Ref. 3991). Western Atlantic: Southeastern Florida and Bermuda to Venezuela, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea (Ref. 37039). Elsewhere, South Atlantic, tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 21-26. Yellowish in color, darker dorsally, opercle silver, caudal base and peduncle dark brown (Ref. 3991). Pectoral and pelvic fins colorless (Ref. 3991). Dorsal adipose fin present.
Biology:  Usually associated with continental and island slopes (Ref. 4769). Mesopelagic (Ref. 58302). Occurs at 100-300 m by day, 200-500 m by night (Ref. 4463). Feeds on crustaceans and small fishes (Ref. 4769). Photophore development complete by about 27 mm SL (Ref. 4769).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 23 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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