North-Pacific frostfish (Benthodesmus pacificus)

Scientific name: Benthodesmus pacificus Parin & Becker, 1970

The North-Pacific frostfish (Benthodesmus pacificus) is a marine fish of the family Trichiuridae. Native range: North Pacific, off Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Kyushu-Palau Ridge, British Columbia, Canada and California, USA.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 44 - 46; Dorsal soft rays (total): 99-104; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 90 - 94; Vertebrae: 149 - 153. Body silvery, jaws and opercle blackish. The inside of the mouth and gill cavities black.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Benthodesmus pacificus
Family: Trichiuridae (Cutlassfishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 112
Depth range: 100–1000 m (328–3281 ft)
Environment: Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 100 - 1000 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: North Pacific: off Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Kyushu-Palau Ridge, British Columbia, Canada and California, USA.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (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