Epigonus telescopus (Risso, 1810)
Black cardinal fish
Epigonus telescopus
photo by Cambraia Duarte, P.M.N. (c)ImagDOP

Family:  Epigonidae (Deepwater cardinalfishes)
Max. size:  75 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 104 years
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 75 - 1305 m
Distribution:  North Atlantic: Iceland to the Canary Islands and Corner Seamounts. One specimen off North America (Ref. 7321). Southeast Atlantic, Indian and Southwest Pacific: Walvis Ridge off southwestern Africa to New Zealand.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9. No opercular spines. 8 spines on first dorsal fin (Ref. 31632). Snout blunt, eye large. Mouth large, lower jaw equaling or slightly protruding beyond upper jaw. Pyloric caeca 21-34. Brown-violet or black, iridescent in life.
Biology:  Adults benthic or benthopelagic on the continental slopes; juveniles pelagic (Ref. 7321). Found on soft bottoms (Ref. 27121). Non-territorial. Carnivorous, feed on small fishes and planktonic invertebrates.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 July 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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