Abyssal halosaur (Halosauropsis macrochir)

Scientific name: Halosauropsis macrochir G?nther, 1878

The Abyssal halosaur (Halosauropsis macrochir) is a marine fish of the family Halosauridae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13. Body greyish-black to bluish black in color; top of head, gill isthmus and branchiostegal membranes black. Deeply pigmented sheath of lateral line. Absence of scales on the top of the head and presence of scales on the opercular bone.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Halosauropsis macrochir
Family: Halosauridae (Halosaurs)
Order: Notacanthiformes (Halosaurs and deep-sea Spiny eels)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 90.0
Depth range: 1100–3300 m (3609–10827 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 1100 - 3300 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: Ireland to Mauritania and South Africa. Western Atlantic: Canada to 25?N, and off southern Brazil. Western Pacific: Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Also known from Western Indian Ocean.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming tmax>10)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026