Greater argentine (Argentina silus)

Scientific name: Argentina silus Ascanius, 1775

The Greater argentine (Argentina silus) is a marine fish of the family Argentinidae.

Biology

Bathypelagic. Prefer depths of 182.8-255.9 m, temperature 7-10?C and mean salinity 34 ppt. Probably form schools close to the bottom. Feeds on planktonic invertebrates including euphausiids, amphipods (arrow worms, krill and Thermisto), chaetognaths, squids and ctenophores, also small fishes. Spawns from April to July. Growth is slow. Eggs and young are pelagic at depths of 400-500m. Used fresh or in fish meal production.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Argentina silus
Family: Argentinidae (Argentines or herring smelts)
Order: Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 70.0
Depth range: 140–1440 m (459–4724 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathydemersal; oceanodromous; depth range 140 - 1440 m, usually 150 - 550 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: Svalbard to west coasts of Scotland and Ireland, deeper parts of North Sea and across the Wyville Thomson ridge to Denmark Strait. Western Atlantic: Davis Strait to George's Bank in Canada.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.12-0.14; tm=5-9)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026