Deep-water bristlemouth (Cyclothone atraria)

Scientific name: Cyclothone atraria Gilbert, 1905

The Deep-water bristlemouth (Cyclothone atraria) is a marine fish of the family Gonostomatidae. Native range: North Pacific, temperate and subtropical, from southern Japan to Baja California, from 21?N and into the Bering Sea.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 17 - 20; Vertebrae: 31 - 33. Body dark-brown or black; margin of scale pockets especially dark; area immediately anterior to anal origin densely pigmented and not transparent; peritoneum black, ending above area between 3rd and 4th VAV, usually invisible from the outside. Gill lamellae free and reduced.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Cyclothone atraria
Family: Gonostomatidae (Bristlemouths)
Order: Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and Dragonfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 6.2
Depth range: 298–4938 m (978–16201 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 298 - 4938 m, usually 400 - 2400 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: North Pacific: temperate and subtropical, from southern Japan to Baja California, from 21?N and into the Bering Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (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