Half-naked hatchetfish (Argyropelecus hemigymnus)

Scientific name: Argyropelecus hemigymnus Cocco, 1829

The Half-naked hatchetfish (Argyropelecus hemigymnus) is a marine fish of the family Sternoptychidae.

Biology

Oceanic and mesopelagic, mainly at 250-650 m. Depth range from 100-700 m and from 460-1082 m in the eastern Ionian Sea. Adults make marked vertical migrations. Found singly or in small groups. An opportunistic feeder at dusk on calanoid copepods, small fishes, etc. Sexual dimorphism with regard to body size, the males being slightly smaller than the females. Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae.Occurs between 200 and 700 m depth during the day, concentrated between 350 and 550 m, and between 100 and 650 m at night, preferring a depth between 150 and 380 m ). Also.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Argyropelecus hemigymnus
Family: Sternoptychidae (Marine hatchetfishes)
Order: Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and Dragonfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 3.9
Depth range: 0–2400 m (0–7874 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 0 - 2400 m, usually 250 - 600 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: north of British Isles to South Africa, including western Mediterranean. Western Atlantic: New Jersey, USA to Argentina. Northwest Atlantic: Canada. Eastern Pacific: throughout the California Current area, seaward of the continental shelf. Known from tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans. South China Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm=1; tmax=1)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026