Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 - 6; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 5 - 6. Metamorphosed females distinguished by the following characteristics: length of illicium 340-447% SL; escal bulb with lightly pigmented truncated distal prolongation; 6-20 long distal filaments; escal papillae absent; proximal escal papillae absent; short dentary teeth (longest 1.3-3.4% SL, average 2.3% SL), arranged posteriorly in two longitudinal series; length of caudal fin rays less than 45% SL; weakly developed skin coverage of proximal part of caudal fin; caudal fin rays free nearly to base (Ref. 86949).

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Lophiiformes

Family: Gigantactinidae

Genus: Gigantactis

Species: Gigantactis macronema Regan, 1925

Climate Zone

Biology

Appear to be active predators which feed on midwater fishes, including Cyclothone acclinidens, Triphoturus mexicanus and Bathylagus stilbius; cephalopods like Vampyroteuthis; and various invertebrates like amphipods, natant decapod crustaceans and coelenterates (Ref. 4525). Maximum length for female from Ref. 41361.

Habitat

bathypelagic

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Threat to Humans

Harmless