Lovely hatchetfish (Argyropelecus aculeatus)

Scientific name: Argyropelecus aculeatus Valenciennes, 1850

The Lovely hatchetfish (Argyropelecus aculeatus) is a marine fish of the family Sternoptychidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12. Deep body, lower opercular spine straight downward and curved outward. Upper opercular spine short, pointing outward.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Argyropelecus aculeatus
Family: Sternoptychidae (Marine hatchetfishes)
Order: Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and Dragonfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 8.3
Depth range: 100–600 m (328–1969 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 100 - 600 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: Portugal to Senegal; reported from Namibia. Western Atlantic: 40?N-10?N and 15?S-35?S; specimens taken off the Guianas. Northwest Atlantic: Canada. Indian Ocean: 0?-35?S. Western Pacific: 35?N-35?S. Southeast Pacific: 30?S-35?S. Recently reported in Aden Gulf, Arabian Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest
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