Legless searsid (Platytroctes apus)

Scientific name: Platytroctes apus G?nther, 1878

The Legless searsid (Platytroctes apus) is a marine fish of the family Platytroctidae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic, scattered records from Denmark Strait and Bay of Biscay to Gabon. Indian, Pacific and western Atlantic: in tropical waters.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 17. Body highly compressed and flabby; body leaf-like in appearance; no nodular luminous organ on body, upper and lower edges of caudal peduncle fringed by black presumably luminous tissue; pectoral fin tiny; body dark brown; opercular region, shoulder luminous organ, and anus black.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Platytroctes apus
Family: Platytroctidae (Tubeshoulders)
Order: Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 18.0
Depth range: 385–5393 m (1263–17694 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 385 - 5393 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: scattered records from Denmark Strait and Bay of Biscay to Gabon. Indian, Pacific and western Atlantic: in tropical waters.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tmax>3)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026