Pacific hatchet fish (Argyropelecus affinis)

Scientific name: Argyropelecus affinis Garman, 1899

Pacific hatchet fish (Argyropelecus affinis)

The Pacific hatchet fish (Argyropelecus affinis) is a marine fish of the family Sternoptychidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14; Vertebrae: 38 - 41. Scales deciduous; swim bladder well developed, gas-filled, euphysoclistous; branchiostegal rays 10, 3 on epihyal; post-abdominal spines (iliac) short, equal in length; abdominal keels shallow.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Argyropelecus affinis
Family
Sternoptychidae (Marine hatchetfishes)
Order
Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and Dragonfishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
8.4
Depth range
1–3872 m (3–12703 ft)
Environment
Marine; bathypelagic; oceanodromous; depth range 1 - 3872 m, usually 1 - 600 m
Climate
Deep-water
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: occasionally between Azores and Madeira, also from Senegal to Gulf of Guinea. Western Atlantic: 30?N-30?S, including the Gulf of Mexico. Northwest Atlantic: Canada. Indian Ocean: 20?N-20?S. Eastern Pacific: 35?N-35?S. Western Pacific: 30?N-10?S. South China 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 (K=0.67)

Sources

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

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