| Family: |
Nemichthyidae (Snipe eels) |
| Max. size: |
80 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 4580 m |
| Distribution: |
Circumglobal: In tropical to temperate waters. North of about 20°S; except Mediterranean Sea and eastern Central Pacific. NorthEast Pacific: Queen Charlotte Islands, British Colombia, Canada to central Mexico, including the Gulf of California (Ref. 32364). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 300; Anal spines: 0-0. Dorsal fin with up to 350 rays; caudal much reduced, linear; anal fin rays 265-270 or more; pectorals small (Ref. 6885). Uniform dusky brown, except jaws, pectoral fins, and lower abdomen which are paler (Ref. 6885). Strong sexual dimorphism (Ref. 3247). |
| Biology: |
Meso- and bathypelagic (Ref. 58302). Feed on crustaceans (Ref. 3247). Oviparous, with planktonic leptocephali (Ref. 32364). Degenerative changes in males and females suggest semelparity (Ref. 32364). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 86942. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 March 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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