Dealfish (Trachipterus arcticus)

Scientific name: Trachipterus arcticus Br?nnich, 1788

The Dealfish (Trachipterus arcticus) is a marine fish of the family Trachipteridae.

Biology

Probably solitary although occasional aggregations have been reported, either for feeding or breeding purposes. Feeds on small fishes and squids. Sexually mature at a length of 200cm and an age of 14 years. Eggs, larvae, and young are pelagic.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Trachipterus arcticus
Family: Trachipteridae (Ribbonfishes)
Order: Lampriformes (Velifers, Tube-eyes and Ribbonfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 300
Depth range: 300–600 m (984–1969 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 300 - 600 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Northeast Atlantic: Norway and Iceland to Madeira Islands; one report from Spain in the Mediterranean. Western Atlantic: New York to southern Florida in USA. Populations in western Atlantic are probably a separate species.
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 (tm=14; Fec = 500,000)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026