Teleostei (teleosts) >
Argentiniformes (Marine smelts) >
Microstomatidae (Pencil smelts)
Etymology: pelagica: From its pelagic life.
Eponymy: Fridtjof Nansen (1861–1930) was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat and later recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 0 - 2000 m (Ref. 58302). Tropical; 15°N - 10°S
Southwest Atlantic, and western to eastern Central Pacific.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5123)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9; Vertebrae: 38 - 39. Branchiostegal rays 4. Head longer than N. atlantica, 27-30% SL. A dark pigment spot on the gular area that becomes obscure with growth in specimens larger than 9 cm SL (Ref. 5123).
Mesopelagic (Ref. 58302).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kawaguchi, K. and J.L. Butler, 1984. Fishes of the genus Nansenia (Microsomatidae) with descriptions of seven new species. Los Angeles County Mus. Contr. Sci. 352:1-22. (Ref. 5123)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 5.9 - 11.1, mean 8.6 °C (based on 6 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00389 (0.00180 - 0.00842), b=3.12 (2.94 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).