Polyacanthonotus rissoanus (De Filippi & Verany, 1857)
Smallmouth spiny eel
photo by DESCNA

Family:  Notacanthidae (Deep-sea spiny eels)
Max. size:  9.5 cm ot (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 500 - 2875 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Baffin Bay-Davis Strait Offshore, Ireland to South Africa, including the Mediterranean Sea. Reported from Iceland (Ref. 12462). Western Atlantic: Davis Strait to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in the USA.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 26-36; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0. Same body coloration as P. africanus but lateral line lighter and less distinct (Ref. 6584). Maxilla fails to extend back to the posterior of nostril. Small mouth, short preoral snout. Light tan with black tips (Ref. 37108).
Biology:  Maximum depth from Ref. 117245. Epibenthic and feeds on coelenterates, worms and crustaceans (Ref. 58426).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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