Species Kingdom

Animalia

Species Class

Species Order

Argyropelecus hemigymnus Cocco, 1829

Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 9; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12; Vertebrae: 36 - 39. Body bright silvery in color; body and trunk with dusky coloration at night (Ref. 4054). Branchiostegal rays: 10 (Ref. 35838).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Stomiiformes

Family: Sternoptychidae

Genus: Argyropelecus

Species: Argyropelecus hemigymnus Cocco, 1829

Climate Zone

bathypelagic

Location

Eastern Atlantic: north of British Isles to South Africa, including western Mediterranean. Western Atlantic: New Jersey, USA to Argentina (Ref. 26340). Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Eastern Pacific: throughout the California Current area, seaward of the continental shelf (Ref. 35838). Known from tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans (Ref. 47377). South China Sea (Ref.74511).

Biology

Oceanic (Ref. 4739) and mesopelagic, mainly at 250-650 m (Ref. 4054). Depth range from 100-700 m (Ref. 4462) and from 460-1082 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). Adults make marked vertical migrations (Ref. 4739). Found singly or in small groups (Ref. 4739). An opportunistic feeder at dusk on calanoid copepods, small fishes, etc (Ref. 4739). Sexual dimorphism with regard to body size (Ref. 5168), the males being slightly smaller than the females (Ref. 8966). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 35838). Occurs between 200 and 700 m depth during the day, concentrated between 350 and 550 m, and between 100 and 650 m at night, preferring a depth between 150 and 380 m Ref. 47377). Also Ref. 58302.

Habitat

bathypelagic