Argyropelecus olfersii (Cuvier, 1829)
Argyropelecus olfersii
photo by Dolgov, A.

 Family:  Sternoptychidae (Marine hatchetfishes), subfamily: Sternoptychinae
 Max. size:  9 cm TL (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  bathypelagic; depth range 100 - 800 m, oceanodromous
 Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: southern Iceland to Canary Islands and Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. South Pacific: between 30°S and 50°S.
 Diagnosis:  Lower opercular spine downward and curved forward. Upper opercular spine short, directed outward. Ventral line of abdominal keel usually with a concave notch in front of anterior postabdominal spine (Ref. 37473).
 Biology:  Oceanic, mesopelagic with adults and juveniles at 200-800 m by day and 100 (sometimes shallower)-600 m by night, pre-metamorphic larvae at 100-300 m. Adults and juveniles make short diel vertical migrations. Dioecious, adult photophore complement acquired at about 16-17 mm SL (Ref. 4739). Feeds on crustaceans and small fishes (Ref. 35388).
 IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated  (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Luna, Susan M. - 18.02.92
 Modified by: Torres, Armi G. - 28.08.03
 Checked by: Agustin, Liza Q. - 05.07.94

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