| Family: |
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Neobythitinae |
| Max. size: |
16.5 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 3110 - 7965 m |
| Distribution: |
In deep waters of tropical and subtropical areas of all oceans. 3 specimens from the Gulf of Guinea (Ref. 3686). |
| Diagnosis: |
Head short with downward inflection. Snout swollen. Eyes small. Poorly developed opercular spine. Anterior gill arch with 8-11 developed gill rakers. Precaudal vertebrae 18-21. |
| Biology: |
The previous maximum depth reported was 8730 m, supposedy the deepest fish caught. However there was a mistake in the logbook of the station, the correct depht is now 7965 m, the third deepes fish 9as of Novemeber 2023 (Ref. 130003). Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Reproductive strategy possibly similar to other members of this family being oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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