Description

Dorsal spines (total): 42 - 46; Dorsal soft rays (total): 99 - 108; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 91 - 98; Vertebrae: 151 - 159. Body silvery, jaws and opercle blackish. The inside of the mouth and gill cavities black.

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Scombriformes

Family: Trichiuridae

Genus: Benthodesmus

Species: Benthodesmus elongatus (Clarke, 1879)

Climate Zone

Location

• Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: off south Brazil and Argentina, Rio Grande Rise, southeastern Africa, Madagascar Ridge, southeastern Australia, New Zealand, Sala y Gomez Ridge.

Biology

Juveniles mesopelagic (Ref. 6181); also benthopelagic (Ref. 5951). Feeds on crustaceans (mainly prawns and euphausiids), small fishes (e.g. Maurolicus) and squid (Ref. 6202). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 36453.

Habitat

benthopelagic

Conservation Status

Not Evaluated

Threat to Humans

Harmless