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Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Serrivomeridae (Sawtooth eels)
Etymology: Serrivomer: Latin, serran, serranus, saw + Latin, vomer = ploughshare; in fishes = bone forming the front part of the roof of the mouth (1823) (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Tarleton Hoffman Bean (1846–1916) was an American ichthyologist and elder brother of B A Bean who was also an ichthyologist. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Gill & Ryder.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 0 - 5998 m (Ref. 117245), usually 450 - 1000 m (Ref. 117245). Deep-water; 3°C - 12°C (Ref. 117245); 82°N - 59°S, 179°W - 167°E
Atlantic Ocean: on both sides, between 60°N and 20°S (Ref. 5237); in the eastern Atlantic, reported to range further north to Iceland (Ref. 12462) and further south to off the Cape and Natal in South Africa (Ref. 5236). Indian Ocean: Reunion (Ref. 33390). Western Pacific: Australia (Ref. 7300).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 78.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5236)
Head, abdomen and tail brown to black or silvery (Ref. 5236). Snout beak-like (Ref. 13608).
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
Epibenthic-pelagic (Ref. 58426). Solitary (Ref. 5951); exhibits vertical migrations during the night. Feeds on shrimps, other crustaceans and small fishes (Ref. 6722). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Saldanha, L. and E. Karmovskaya, 1990. Serrivomeridae. p. 169-171. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 1. (Ref. 5237)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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