Diplospinus multistriatus Maul, 1948
Striped escolar
Diplospinus multistriatus
photo by Dubosc, J.

Family:  Gempylidae (Snake mackerels)
Max. size:  33 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 50 - 1000 m
Distribution:  Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: in central water masses. Rather rare, but relatively abundant in the northwest and southeast Atlantic and southeast Pacific Ref. 6181).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 30-36; Dorsal soft rays (total): 35-44; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 28-35; Vertebrae: 57-64. Body is extremely elongate and compressed. Lower jaw extends anterior to upper jaw with a small conical dermal process. Upper jaw with 3 immovable and 3 or 4 movable fang-like teeth anteriorly. Lateral line situated closer to the ventral profile than the dorsal profile posteriorly. Color is silvery with narrow dark dotted lines along the body; the gill membranes are jet-black.
Biology:  Oceanic, migrating upward at night to 100 to 200 m (Ref. 6181). Probably forming schools during daytime (Ref. 6181). Feed on crustaceans and small fish (Ref. 6181). Females mature at about 16 cm (Ref. 36731). Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6766).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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