Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 206 - 263; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 5 - 20; Vertebrae: 124 - 153. Head and body silvery in color and possibly with silvery spots; fins red (Ref. 4165).

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Lampriformes

Family: Lophotidae

Genus: Lophotus

Species: Lophotus lacepede Giorna, 1809

Climate Zone

Biology

A rare (Ref. 4165), oceanic, mesopelagic species. Occasionally stranded in shallow water (Ref. 9563). Capable of discharging a black ink from an ink-sac in the cloaca when alarmed. Adults feed on fishes (anchovies) and squids (Ref. 6740). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 36608). Found in stomachs of tunas (Ref. 2850).

Habitat

bathypelagic

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threat to Humans

Harmless