Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Stephanoberyciformes (Pricklefishes, bigscales and gibberfishes) >
Melamphaidae (Bigscale fishes or ridgeheads)
Etymology: Melamphaes: Greek, melan, -anos = black + Greek, amphi = both side (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; bathypelagic; depth range 500 - 1000 m (Ref. 31511). Deep-water, preferred ?; 29°N - 48°S
North Atlantic: including 7 specimens recorded between about 18° and 29°N and 15° and 25°W. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Southwest Pacific: New South Wales, Australia (Ref. 7300) and New Zealand (Ref. 5755).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 9 - 9.7 cm
Max length : 10.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6747)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 3;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 5;
Anal
spines: 1;
Anal
soft rays: 17. Light brown body; unpigmented fins; mouth and branchial cavity light brown. Well-developed post temporal spine, directed antero-dorsally. About 20 transverse rows of scales (nape to caudal fin) (Ref. 31511). Head with obtuse angle in lateral margin (Ref. 37108).
Adults occur below 500 m (Ref. 6747).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Maul, G.E., 1990. Melamphaidae. p. 612-618. 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. 2. (Ref. 4502)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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