Polymixia lowei Günther, 1859
Beardfish
Polymixia lowei
photo by NOAA\NMFS\Mississippi Laboratory

Family:  Polymixiidae (Beardfishes)
Max. size:  29.4 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 50 - 600 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Canada to New York, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to the Antilles (Ref. 26340) and French Guiana.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 5-5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-32; Anal spines: 4-4; Anal soft rays: 15-15; Vertebrae: 29-30. Tip of snout projecting beyond upper jaw (Ref. 13608). Body elongate. Head blunt and rounded. Head and body bluish gray (Ref. 37108). Body with metallic blue shin above, silvery below (Ref. 7251).
Biology:  Found on soft bottoms (Ref. 5217).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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