| Himantolophidae (Footballfishes) |
| 40 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
|
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 338 - 1360 m |
| Circumglobal in the southern hemisphere except eastern Pacific (Ref. 7300). Range extended to the Falkland Is. (Ref. 80772) and probably a first record in the Philippines (Ref. 95664). |
|
Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-5; Anal soft rays: 4-4. This species is distinguished in having the illicium with a bulbous distal light organ, originating from behind the tip of the snout; external second cephalic ray absent; esca without bony denticles; posterior appendage present, bifurcated at the base and each primary branch had a side branch near the base; distal appendage absent (Ref. 80772). Metamorphosed females characterized further by having a series of 2-7 filaments emerging from the anterior margin of the 2 primary branches of paired posterior escal appendage; posterolateral appendages simple or bifurcated at tip, longest is less than 10% SL in specimens less than 10 cm; presence of small dermal spinules on stem of illicium, escal bulb and escal appendages in specimens greater than 3 cm; low and indistinct papillae of snout and chin; skin devoid of white patches; caudal fin rays white or faintly pigmented in specimens less than 10 cm. Adult males with 11-13 olfactory lamellae; diameter of posterior nostril 5.7-6.7% SL, length of snout 17-18% SL; presence of about 20-25 upper denticular teeth and 22-32 lower denticular teeth (Ref. 86949). |
| Mesopelagic species (Ref. 7300). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 October 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
|
Collected from the continental slope to the east of the Falkland Islands, BMNH 2008.6.20.1 (Himantolophus appelii, 21 cm TL (= 616 g), female). The southern limit of this species is most likely due to the presence of the South Atlantic Current, eddies may bring some eggs further south, thus accounting for the occurrence of this specimen in Falklands waters (Ref. 80772). |
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