Spark anglemouth (Sigmops bathyphilus)

Scientific name: Sigmops bathyphilus Vaillant, 1884

The Spark anglemouth (Sigmops bathyphilus) is a marine fish of the family Gonostomatidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 22 - 26. Black in color. Few enlarged teeth on the roof of the mouth. Fewer anal rays and more gill rakers. Body compressed and photophores extremely small.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Sigmops bathyphilus
Family: Gonostomatidae (Bristlemouths)
Order: Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and Dragonfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 15.0
Depth range: 700–3000 m (2297–9843 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; non-migratory; depth range 700 - 3000 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: scattered records from 65?30'N, 30?30'W to Namibia; also off Cape Point, South Africa. Northwest Atlantic: Canada. Western Central Atlantic: between 20?N and 5?S. Austral Atlantic and Pacific: between 30? to 35?S.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest
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