Family: |
Scopelarchidae (Pearleyes) |
Max. size: |
12.6 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 820 m, oceanodromous |
Distribution: |
Circumglobal in warm waters. Eastern Pacific: California Current region off southern California to the Baja California Peninsula. Western Atlantic: Off southeastern USA, the Bahamas, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea (Ref. 37039). Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). |
Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-9; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 21-26; Vertebrae: 44-49. Pigment on body limited to dark stripes dorsal and ventral to lateral line (Ref. 6601). Branchiostegal rays: 8. |
Biology: |
Oceanic and mesopelagic (Ref. 6601, 58302). Adults have usually been taken in hauls to depths in excess of 500 m although they have also been captured at night in several hauls between 275 to 0 m. Larvae have been captured in hauls restricted to the upper 100 m and have been captured year-round throughout its range (Ref. 10755). Oviparous, with planktonic larvae (Ref. 35929). Synchronous hermaphrodites (Ref. 35929). Adults prey on other midwater fishes (Ref. 6691). |
IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 May 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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