Bigscale deepsea smelt (Melanolagus bericoides)

Scientific name: Melanolagus bericoides Borodin, 1929

Bigscale deepsea smelt (Melanolagus bericoides)

The Bigscale deepsea smelt (Melanolagus bericoides) is a marine fish of the family Bathylagidae. Native range: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical waters. Eastern Pacific: California Current region.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 18 - 23; Vertebrae: 48 - 54. More than two eyes; anal fin base longer than caudal peduncle; swim bladder absent; branchiostegal rays, two on each side; pectoral fins originating close to ventral surface of the body. Head and body black when fresh; scale pocket markings jet black. Branchiostegal rays: 2. Also.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Melanolagus bericoides
Family
Bathylagidae (Deep-sea smelts)
Order
Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
20.0
Depth range
0–1700 m (0–5577 ft)
Environment
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 0 - 1700 m
Climate
Deep-water
Distribution
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: widely distributed in tropical and subtropical waters. Eastern Pacific: California Current region.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

Last updated