Platytroctes apus Günther, 1878
Legless searsid
Platytroctes apus
photo by JAMARC

Family:  Platytroctidae (Tubeshoulders)
Max. size:  18 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 385 - 5393 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: scattered records from Denmark Strait and Bay of Biscay (Ref. 6682) to Gabon (Ref. 4461). Indian, Pacific and western Atlantic: in tropical waters.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-20; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 17-17. Body highly compressed and flabby; body leaf-like in appearance; no nodular luminous organ on body, upper and lower edges of caudal peduncle fringed by black presumably luminous tissue; pectoral fin tiny; body dark brown; opercular region, shoulder luminous organ, and anus black (Ref. 13608).
Biology:  Reported to reach the depth of 5,393 m (R.E. Pohl, pers. comm., 28/11/01).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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