Binocular fish (Winteria telescopa)

Scientific name: Winteria telescopa Brauer, 1901

The Binocular fish (Winteria telescopa) is a marine fish of the family Opisthoproctidae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic, Gulf of Guinea. Western Pacific: Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Reported from the Hawaiian Archipelago. Tropical Indian Ocean.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 7 - 9. Dark blue-black with silvery reflections on head.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Winteria telescopa
Family: Opisthoproctidae (Barreleyes or spookfishes)
Order: Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 15.0
Depth range: 400–2500 m (1312–8202 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 400 - 2500 m, usually 500 - 700 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: Gulf of Guinea. Western Pacific: Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Reported from the Hawaiian Archipelago. Tropical Indian Ocean.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 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 27 September 2026