Baird's slickhead (Alepocephalus bairdii)

Scientific name: Alepocephalus bairdii Goode & Bean, 1879

The Baird's slickhead (Alepocephalus bairdii) is a marine fish of the family Alepocephalidae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic, Greenland and Iceland southward to 17?N. Western Atlantic: Greenland to Grand Banks and 29?52'N, 77?09'W.

Biology

Found over ooze and sand bottoms. Bathypelagic. Feeds mostly on coelenterates, but also decapods, tunicates and fishes.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Alepocephalus bairdii
Family: Alepocephalidae (Slickheads)
Order: Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 100.0
Depth range: 365–1700 m (1198–5577 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 365 - 1700 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: Greenland and Iceland southward to 17?N. Western Atlantic: Greenland to Grand Banks and 29?52'N, 77?09'W.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.077; tmax=38; Fec = 458 (per batch))

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026