Teleostei (teleosts) >
Scombriformes (Mackerels) >
Trichiuridae (Cutlassfishes) > Aphanopodinae
Etymology: Benthodesmus: Greek, benthos = depth of the sea + Greek, desmos = bond, chain (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 200 - 850 m (Ref. 6181). Deep-water; 45°N - 36°S, 172°W - 175°E (Ref. 57013)
Western Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951), off Cape Hatteras, Gulf of Mexico, Suriname and southern Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Gulf of Guinea to Angola. Western Indian Ocean: off Natal, South Africa (Ref. 11228). Western Pacific: Emperor Seamounts, Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Viet Nam, and the Sulu Sea. Indian Ocean: south of Java, Indonesia. Reported from British Columbia, Canada (Ref. 11980).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 230 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 10818); common length : 50.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 10818)
Mainly found over the continental slope (Ref. 27121). Juveniles mesopelagic (Ref. 6181, 58302).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Nakamura, I. and N.V. Parin, 1993. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 15. Snake mackerels and cutlassfishes of the world (families Gempylidae and Trichiuridae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the snake mackerels, snoeks, escolars, gemfishes, sackfishes, domine, oilfish, cutlassfishes,. scabbardfishes, hairtails, and frostfishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(15):136 p. (Ref. 6181)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: bycatch
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