Pygmy argentine (Glossanodon pygmaeus)

Scientific name: Glossanodon pygmaeus Cohen, 1958

The Pygmy argentine (Glossanodon pygmaeus) is a marine fish of the family Argentinidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, South Carolina to southern Florida, in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and off Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and northern Brazil.

Biology

Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal soft rays: 11 - 13. Slender body. Swim bladder lacking silvery pigment. Light tan ground color in alcohol.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Glossanodon pygmaeus
Family: Argentinidae (Argentines or herring smelts)
Order: Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 11.3
Depth range: 92–458 m (302–1503 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 92 - 458 m, usually 183 - 366 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Western Atlantic: South Carolina to southern Florida, in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and off Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and northern Brazil.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
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