Blackhead salmon (Narcetes stomias)

Scientific name: Narcetes stomias Gilbert, 1890

The Blackhead salmon (Narcetes stomias) is a marine fish of the family Alepocephalidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-20; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 14 - 17

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Scientific name: Narcetes stomias
Family: Alepocephalidae (Slickheads)
Order: Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 57.5
Depth range: 1500–2300 m (4921–7546 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 1500 - 2300 m, usually 1800 - 2100 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: North and South Atlantic, continental slope of southern Africa, Indian Ocean including Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Mascarene Plateau, Ninety East Ridge, Broken Ridge, Exmouth Plateau and some other seamounts, eastern and western Pacific Ocean (north and south).
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest
Resilience: Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

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

Last updated 27 September 2026