Tropical hatchetfish (Argyropelecus lychnus)

Scientific name: Argyropelecus lychnus Garman, 1899

The Tropical hatchetfish (Argyropelecus lychnus) is a marine fish of the family Sternoptychidae. Native range: Western Pacific, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: southern British Columbia, Canada to California, USA and farther south.

Biology

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal soft rays: 9; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12; Vertebrae: 35 - 37. Branchiostegal rays: 10. Lower preopercular spine downward and curved forward, upper preopercular spine curved outward. Two postabdominal spines directed ventrally.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Argyropelecus lychnus
Family: Sternoptychidae (Marine hatchetfishes)
Order: Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and Dragonfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 5.9
Depth range: 200–700 m (656–2297 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 200 - 700 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Western Pacific: Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: southern British Columbia, Canada to California, USA and farther south.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
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