Scopelarchoides danae Johnson, 1974
Dana pearleye
photo by JAMARC

Family:  Scopelarchidae (Pearleyes)
Max. size:  12.3 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 1850 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Circumglobal: In tropical to subtropical waters; except Mediterranean Sea. Eastern Central Atlantic: numerous records within the area, all but one are from stations within the Gulf of Guinea (ca 5°N to 11°S and east of 15°W). Western Indian Ocean: numerous records from the Mozambique Channel and off Xai-Xai, Mozambique (Ref. 6601). Western Central Pacific: known only from 2 adult specimens, one collected from near New Caledonia and one from near the Marquesas (Ref. 40783). South China Sea (Ref.74511).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-9; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 24-27. Dark stripe just below lateral line and extends to lower caudal lobe (Ref. 6601). Pigments lacking on pectoral and pelvic fins; gill filaments not extending to edge of gill covers (Ref. 13608).
Biology:  Oceanic and mesopelagic (Ref. 6601, 75154). Adults have usually been taken in hauls at depths between 300 to 800 m; most larvae in hauls to depths between 0 to 200 m. Most records in all areas are from localities near continental or insular land masses. Synchronous hermaphrodites (Ref. 10755).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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