| Family: |
Lophotidae (Crestfishes) |
| Max. size: |
200 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 92 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Nearly worldwide in warmer seas. Western Atlantic: Florida in USA to Brazil (Ref. 7251). Eastern Atlantic: western Mediterranean, off Portugal, Madeira and off Canary Islands; also South Africa (Ref. 4165). Western Indian Ocean: recently recorded from Reunion (Ref. 53568). Eastern Pacific: southern California, USA (Ref. 6740). Also reported from Australia (Ref. 9563). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 206-263; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 5-20; Vertebrae: 124-153. Head and body silvery in color and possibly with silvery spots; fins red (Ref. 4165). |
| 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). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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