Threadfin slickhead (Talismania bifurcata)

Scientific name: Talismania bifurcata Parr, 1951

The Threadfin slickhead (Talismania bifurcata) is a marine fish of the family Alepocephalidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, British Columbia, Canada to Peru. Southwest Pacific: New South Wales, Australia.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-24; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 17 - 24; Vertebrae: 43 - 50. Branchiostegal rays: 7-8.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Talismania bifurcata
Family: Alepocephalidae (Slickheads)
Order: Osmeriformes (Smelts)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 21.0
Depth range: 300–2000 m (984–6562 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 300 - 2000 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Eastern Pacific: British Columbia, Canada to Peru. Southwest Pacific: New South Wales, Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tmax>3)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026