Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Aulopiformes (Grinners) >
Bathysauridae (Deepsea lizardfishes)
Etymology: Bathysaurus: Greek, bathys = deep + Greek, sauros = lizard (Ref. 45335). More on author: Günther.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 1550 - 4903 m (Ref. 58302), usually 2000 - ? m (Ref. 4472). Deep-water, preferred ?; 50°N - 20°S, 180°W - 180°E
Circumglobal between latitude 50°N-20°S except tropical eastern Pacific. Eastern Atlantic: northern Ireland; Morocco to Gabon.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 78.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4472); common length : 40.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4472)
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 16-17;
Anal
soft rays: 13;
Vertebrae: 50 - 51. Moderately elongate and slender. Slightly depressed anteriorly and compressed posteriorly. Color generally white, with peritoneum, branchial and buccal regions dark. Small specimens have faint vertical bars (Ref. 37039).
Benthic (Ref. 58302). Found on the continental rise and the abyss, commonly below 2,000 m, in water colder than 4°C. Larvae are probably pelagic in near-surface midwaters. Solitary, lurking bottom feeder. Probably piscivore (Ref. 4964).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Contrary to Ref. 240 this species is an hermaphrodite (Ref. 7463).
Sulak, K.J., 1990. Synodontidae. p. 365-370. 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. 4472)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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