Beardfish (Polymixia lowei) fish species and information / pictures of Beardfish - Polymixia lowei

Beardfish (Polymixia lowei) fish species information

Scientific Name
Polymixia lowei

Common Name
Beardfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-32; Anal spines: 4; Anal soft rays: 15; Vertebrae: 29 - 30. Tip of snout projecting beyond upper jaw (Ref. 13608). Body elongate. Head blunt and rounded. Head and body bluish gray (Ref. 37108). Body with metallic blue shin above, silvery below (Ref. 7251).

Classification

Classified By
G?nther, 1859
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Beardfishes (Polymixiiformes)
Family
Beardfishes (Polymixiidae)

Distribution

Region
Western Atlantic
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Canada to New York, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to the Antilles (Ref. 26340) and French Guiana.
Range
41°N - 4°N

Environment

Climate
Deep-water
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
50 m
Depth To - meters
600 m
Zone
bathydemersal
Environment
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 50 - 600 m (Ref. 5217), usually 150 - 600 m (Ref. 5217)
Trophic Level
4.03 s.e. 0.66 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
20.0 cm
Common Length
15.0 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5029 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Vulnerability
Moderate vulnerability (37 of 100)
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tmax>4)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated