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Fish Identification: Find Species


Family: Sternoptychidae Marine hatchetfishes



(See list of species below)



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78 species
(see list below)
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No picture found


 
Araiophos eastropas
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 3.4 cm SL

 
Araiophos gracilis
[]

Photo by Mincarone, M.M.

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 7.7 cm SL
Argyripnus atlanticus Maul, 1952

Photo by Photo by Mincarone, M.M.
 
Argyripnus atlanticus
[]
No picture found


 
Argyripnus boreopacificus
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 8.9 cm SL

 
Argyripnus brocki
[Brock's bristle-mouth fish]
No picture found


 
Argyripnus electronus
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 8.9 cm SL

 
Argyripnus ephippiatus
[Gilbert & Cramer's bristle-mouth fish]
No picture found

Max. Length 7.3 cm SL

 
Argyripnus hulleyi
[Reunion's bristle-mouth fish]

Photo by Graham, K.

Southwest Pacific.
Max. Length 14 cm TL
Argyripnus iridescens McCulloch, 1926

Photo by Photo by Graham, K.
 
Argyripnus iridescens
[Brilliant pearlside]

Photo by Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash./Harold, A.S.

Indo-West Pacific. off A
Max. Length 7.9 cm SL
Argyripnus pharos Harold & Lancaster, 2003

Photo by Photo by Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash./Harold, A.S.
 
Argyripnus pharos
[]

Photo by Orlov, A.

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 8.3 cm SL
Argyropelecus aculeatus Valenciennes, 1850

Photo by Photo by Orlov, A.
 
Argyropelecus aculeatus
[Lovely hatchetfish]

Photo by JAMARC

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 8.4 cm SL
Argyropelecus affinis Garman, 1899

Photo by Photo by JAMARC
 
Argyropelecus affinis
[Pacific hatchet fish]

Photo by Dolgov, A.

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 12 cm SL
Argyropelecus gigas Norman, 1930

Photo by Photo by Dolgov, A.
 
Argyropelecus gigas
[Hatchetfish]

Photo by Fischer, L.G.

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 5.1 cm TL
Argyropelecus hemigymnus Cocco, 1829

Photo by Photo by Fischer, L.G.
 
Argyropelecus hemigymnus
[Half-naked hatchetfish]

Photo by Ramjohn, D.D.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 7 cm TL
Argyropelecus lychnus Garman, 1899

Photo by Photo by Ramjohn, D.D.
 
Argyropelecus lychnus
[Tropical hatchetfish]

Photo by Dolgov, A.

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 9 cm TL
Argyropelecus olfersii (Cuvier, 1829)

Photo by Photo by Dolgov, A.
 
Argyropelecus olfersii
[]

Photo by JAMARC

Atlantic, Indian and Paci
Max. Length 8.3 cm TL
Argyropelecus sladeni Regan, 1908

Photo by Photo by JAMARC
 
Argyropelecus sladeni
[Sladen's hatchet fish]
No picture found


 
Danaphos asteroscopus
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 5.7 cm TL

 
Danaphos oculatus
[Bottlelights]
No picture found


 
Maurolicus amethystinopunctatus
[]

Photo by Graham, K.

Southwest Pacific
Max. Length 5 cm SL
Maurolicus australis Hector, 1875

Photo by Photo by Graham, K.
 
Maurolicus australis
[Pennant pearlside]
No picture found

Max. Length 3.4 cm SL

 
Maurolicus breviculus
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 6.8 cm SL

 
Maurolicus imperatorius
[Emperor seamount lightfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 6.3 cm SL

 
Maurolicus inventionis
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 5 cm SL

 
Maurolicus japonicus
[North Pacific lightfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 4.4 cm SL

 
Maurolicus javanicus
[Javan pearlside]
No picture found

Max. Length 3.2 cm SL

 
Maurolicus kornilovorum
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 3.4 cm SL

 
Maurolicus mucronatus
[]

Photo by Svensen, E.

Sub-Arctic, and sub-Antar
Max. Length 8 cm TL
Maurolicus muelleri (Gmelin, 1789)

Photo by Photo by Svensen, E.
 
Maurolicus muelleri
[Silvery lightfish]

Photo by Diaz, M.L.

Southeast Pacific
Max. Length 5.4 cm SL
Maurolicus parvipinnis Vaillant, 1888

Photo by Photo by Diaz, M.L.
 
Maurolicus parvipinnis
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 5.9 cm SL

 
Maurolicus rudjakovi
[]

Photo by Fischer, L.G.

Southwest Atlantic
Max. Length 5.2 cm SL
Maurolicus stehmanni Parin & Kobyliansky, 1993

Photo by Photo by Fischer, L.G.
 
Maurolicus stehmanni
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 4.7 cm SL

 
Maurolicus walvisensis
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 5.2 cm SL

 
Maurolicus weitzmani
[Atlantic pearlside]
No picture found

Max. Length 3.5 cm SL

 
Polyipnus aquavitus
[Aquavit hatchetfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 6.2 cm SL

 
Polyipnus asper
[]

Photo by NOAA\NMFS\Mississippi Laboratory

Western Central Atlantic
Max. Length 8.1 cm SL
Polyipnus asteroides Schultz, 1938

Photo by Photo by NOAA\NMFS\Mississippi Laboratory
 
Polyipnus asteroides
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 2.0 cm SL

 
Polyipnus bruuni
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 6 cm SL

 
Polyipnus clarus
[Slope hatchetfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 2.8 cm SL

 
Polyipnus danae
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 7 cm SL

 
Polyipnus elongatus
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 4.0 cm SL

 
Polyipnus fraseri
[]

Photo by SFSA

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 6 cm SL
Polyipnus indicus Schultz, 1961

Photo by Photo by SFSA
 
Polyipnus indicus
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 6.4 cm SL

 
Polyipnus inermis
[]

Photo by Graham, K.

Southwest Pacific
Max. Length 8.2 cm SL
Polyipnus kiwiensis Baird, 1971

Photo by Photo by Graham, K.
 
Polyipnus kiwiensis
[Kiwi hatchetfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 4.6 cm SL

 
Polyipnus laruei
[Bigeye hatchetfish]

Photo by Garcia Jr., J.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 4.4 cm SL
Polyipnus laternatus Garman, 1899

Photo by Photo by Garcia Jr., J.
 
Polyipnus laternatus
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 8.8 cm SL

 
Polyipnus latirastrus
[Combside hatchetfish]
No picture found


 
Polyipnus limatulus
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 9.7 cm SL

 
Polyipnus matsubarai
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 5.5 cm SL

 
Polyipnus meteori
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 3.1 cm SL

 
Polyipnus notatus
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 8.3 cm SL

 
Polyipnus nuttingi
[Nutting's hatchet fish]
No picture found

Max. Length 2.7 cm SL

 
Polyipnus oluolus
[]

Photo by SFSA

Western Indian Ocean. We
Max. Length 5.6 cm SL
Polyipnus omphus Baird, 1971

Photo by Photo by SFSA
 
Polyipnus omphus
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 4.7 cm SL

 
Polyipnus ovatus
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 6.1 cm SL

 
Polyipnus parini
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 4.9 cm SL

 
Polyipnus paxtoni
[Paxton's hatchetfish]

Photo by DESCNA

Eastern Atlantic
Max. Length 5 cm SL
Polyipnus polli Schultz, 1961

Photo by Photo by DESCNA
 
Polyipnus polli
[Round hatchetfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 6.6 cm SL

 
Polyipnus ruggeri
[Rugby hatchetfish]

Photo by Bulletin of Marine Science/Harold, A.S.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 6.0 cm SL
Polyipnus soelae Harold, 1994

Photo by Photo by Bulletin of Marine Science/Harold, A.S.
 
Polyipnus soelae
[Soela hatchetfish]

Photo by National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, Taiwan

Western Pacific
Max. Length 6 cm SL
Polyipnus spinifer Borodulina, 1979

Photo by Photo by National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, Taiwan
 
Polyipnus spinifer
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 8.5 cm SL

 
Polyipnus spinosus
[Spiny hatchetfish]

Photo by Senou, H.

Northwest Pacific
Max. Length 5.3 cm SL
Polyipnus stereope Jordan & Starks, 1904

Photo by Photo by Senou, H.
 
Polyipnus stereope
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 3.7 cm SL

 
Polyipnus surugaensis
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 7.2 cm SL

 
Polyipnus tridentifer
[Three-spined hatchetfish]

Photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 4.7 cm SL
Polyipnus triphanos Schultz, 1938

Photo by Photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.
 
Polyipnus triphanos
[Threelight hatchetfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 3.5 cm SL

 
Polyipnus unispinus
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 6 cm SL

 
Sonoda megalophthalma
[]
No picture found


 
Sonoda paucilampa
[]

Photo by Orlov, A.

Atlantic, Indian and Paci
Max. Length 5.5 cm SL
Sternoptyx diaphana Hermann, 1781

Photo by Photo by Orlov, A.
 
Sternoptyx diaphana
[Diaphanous hatchet fish]

Photo by Reyes, P.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 4.5 cm SL
Sternoptyx obscura Garman, 1899

Photo by Photo by Reyes, P.
 
Sternoptyx obscura
[]

Photo by Mincarone, M.M.

Widely distributed in the
Max. Length 6 cm SL
Sternoptyx pseudobscura Baird, 1971

Photo by Photo by Mincarone, M.M.
 
Sternoptyx pseudobscura
[Highlight hatchetfish]

Photo by Colombo, G.L.A.

Circumglobal in subtropic
Max. Length 6 cm SL
Sternoptyx pseudodiaphana Borodulina, 1977

Photo by Photo by Colombo, G.L.A.
 
Sternoptyx pseudodiaphana
[False oblique hatchetfish]
No picture found

Max. Length 5.5 cm SL

 
Thorophos euryops
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 6 cm SL

 
Thorophos nexilis
[]
No picture found

Max. Length 2.1 cm SL

 
Valenciennellus carlsbergi
[]

Photo by Costa, F.

Worldwide in tropical to
Max. Length 3.1 cm SL
Valenciennellus tripunctulatus (Esmark, 1871)

Photo by Photo by Costa, F.
 
Valenciennellus tripunctulatus
[Constellationfish]


Sort by: Species Length Year
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n = 78

Scientific Name English Name Distribution Max. Length (cm) Year
Araiophos eastropas Western Central Pacific. 1969
Araiophos gracilis Eastern Central Pacific 3.4 SL 1961
Argyripnus atlanticus Eastern Atlantic 7.7 SL 1952
Argyripnus boreopacificus Northwest Pacific 2017
Argyripnus brocki Brock's bristle-mouth fish Eastern Central Pacific 8.9 SL 1973
Argyripnus electronus Southeast Pacific 1992
Argyripnus ephippiatus Gilbert & Cramer's bristle-mouth fish Pacific Ocean. 8.9 SL 1897
Argyripnus hulleyi Reunion's bristle-mouth fish Western Indian Ocean 7.3 SL 2009
Argyripnus iridescens Brilliant pearlside Southwest Pacific. 14 TL 1926
Argyripnus pharos Indo-West Pacific. off A 7.9 SL 2003
Argyropelecus aculeatus Lovely hatchetfish Eastern Atlantic 8.3 SL 1850
Argyropelecus affinis Pacific hatchet fish Eastern Atlantic 8.4 SL 1899
Argyropelecus gigas Hatchetfish Eastern Atlantic 12 SL 1930
Argyropelecus hemigymnus Half-naked hatchetfish Eastern Atlantic 5.1 TL 1829
Argyropelecus lychnus Tropical hatchetfish Western Pacific 7 TL 1899
Argyropelecus olfersii Eastern Atlantic 9 TL 1829
Argyropelecus sladeni Sladen's hatchet fish Atlantic, Indian and Paci 8.3 TL 1908
Danaphos asteroscopus Indian Ocean. 1931
Danaphos oculatus Bottlelights Indo-Pacific. Northeast 5.7 TL 1899
Maurolicus amethystinopunctatus Northeast Atlantic 1838
Maurolicus australis Pennant pearlside Southwest Pacific 5 SL 1875
Maurolicus breviculus Southeast Pacific 3.4 SL 1993
Maurolicus imperatorius Emperor seamount lightfish North Pacific 6.8 SL 1993
Maurolicus inventionis Southeast Atlantic 6.3 SL 1993
Maurolicus japonicus North Pacific lightfish Northwest Pacific 5 SL 1915
Maurolicus javanicus Javan pearlside Eastern Indian Ocean 4.4 SL 1993
Maurolicus kornilovorum Western Indian Ocean 3.2 SL 1993
Maurolicus mucronatus Western Indian Ocean 3.4 SL 1871
Maurolicus muelleri Silvery lightfish Sub-Arctic, and sub-Antar 8 TL 1789
Maurolicus parvipinnis Southeast Pacific 5.4 SL 1888
Maurolicus rudjakovi Southeast Pacific 5.9 SL 1993
Maurolicus stehmanni Southwest Atlantic 5.2 SL 1993
Maurolicus walvisensis Southeast Atlantic 4.7 SL 1993
Maurolicus weitzmani Atlantic pearlside Western Atlantic 5.2 SL 1993
Polyipnus aquavitus Aquavit hatchetfish Western Pacific 3.5 SL 1971
Polyipnus asper Eastern Indian Ocean 6.2 SL 1994
Polyipnus asteroides Western Central Atlantic 8.1 SL 1938
Polyipnus bruuni Western Indian Ocean 2.0 SL 1994
Polyipnus clarus Slope hatchetfish Western Atlantic 6 SL 1994
Polyipnus danae Western Pacific 2.8 SL 1990
Polyipnus elongatus Southwest Pacific 7 SL 1979
Polyipnus fraseri Western Pacific 4.0 SL 1934
Polyipnus indicus Western Indian Ocean 6 SL 1961
Polyipnus inermis Southeast Pacific 6.4 SL 1981
Polyipnus kiwiensis Kiwi hatchetfish Southwest Pacific 8.2 SL 1971
Polyipnus laruei Bigeye hatchetfish Western Pacific 4.6 SL 2017
Polyipnus laternatus Western Atlantic 4.4 SL 1899
Polyipnus latirastrus Combside hatchetfish Western Pacific 8.8 SL 1994
Polyipnus limatulus Western Indian Ocean 1998
Polyipnus matsubarai Northwest Pacific 9.7 SL 1961
Polyipnus meteori Indo-Pacific 5.5 SL 1967
Polyipnus notatus Western Pacific 3.1 SL 2016
Polyipnus nuttingi Nutting's hatchet fish Western Indian Ocean 8.3 SL 1905
Polyipnus oluolus Western Pacific 2.7 SL 1971
Polyipnus omphus Western Indian Ocean. We 5.6 SL 1971
Polyipnus ovatus Western Central Pacific 4.7 SL 1994
Polyipnus parini Western Pacific. 6.1 SL 1979
Polyipnus paxtoni Paxton's hatchetfish Western Central Pacific 4.9 SL 1989
Polyipnus polli Round hatchetfish Eastern Atlantic 5 SL 1961
Polyipnus ruggeri Rugby hatchetfish Indo-West Pacific. 6.6 SL 1971
Polyipnus soelae Soela hatchetfish Indo-West Pacific 6.0 SL 1994
Polyipnus spinifer Western Pacific 6 SL 1979
Polyipnus spinosus Spiny hatchetfish Western Cental Pacific 8.5 SL 1887
Polyipnus stereope Northwest Pacific 5.3 SL 1904
Polyipnus surugaensis Northwest Pacific 3.7 SL 1990
Polyipnus tridentifer Three-spined hatchetfish Eastern Indian Ocean 7.2 SL 1914
Polyipnus triphanos Threelight hatchetfish Indo-Pacific 4.7 SL 1938
Polyipnus unispinus Western Pacific 3.5 SL 1938
Sonoda megalophthalma Western Atlantic 6 SL 1959
Sonoda paucilampa Western Central Atlantic 1960
Sternoptyx diaphana Diaphanous hatchet fish Atlantic, Indian and Paci 5.5 SL 1781
Sternoptyx obscura Indo-Pacific 4.5 SL 1899
Sternoptyx pseudobscura Highlight hatchetfish Widely distributed in the 6 SL 1971
Sternoptyx pseudodiaphana False oblique hatchetfish Circumglobal in subtropic 6 SL 1977
Thorophos euryops Western Central Pacific 5.5 SL 1931
Thorophos nexilis Western Central Pacific 6 SL 1932
Valenciennellus carlsbergi Western Central Pacific 2.1 SL 1931
Valenciennellus tripunctulatus Constellationfish Worldwide in tropical to 3.1 SL 1871



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