Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Osmeriformes (Smelts) >
Bathylagidae (Deep-sea smelts)
Etymology: Melanolagus: Greek, melan, -anos = black + Greek, lagos = hare (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 100 - 1700 m (Ref. 96339). Deep-water, preferred ?; 71°N - 58°S, 180°W - 180°E
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: widely distributed in tropical and subtropical waters. Eastern Pacific: California Current region (Ref. 35604).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 20.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4459)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 0;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 9-12;
Anal
spines: 0;
Anal
soft rays: 18 - 23;
Vertebrae: 48 - 54. More than two eyes; anal fin base longer than caudal peduncle; swim bladder absent; branchiostegal rays, two on each side; pectoral fins originating close to ventral surface of the body. Head and body black when fresh; scale pocket markings jet black (Ref. 13608). Branchiostegal rays: 2 (Ref. 35604). Also Ref. 41299.
Mesopelagic, perhaps with diel migration (Ref. 58302). Usually caught singly, but also in small aggregations (Ref. 6345). Feed on plankton (Ref. 6345). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 35604). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Cohen, D.M., 1984. Bathylagidae. p. 392-394. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Volume 1. Unesco, Paris. (Ref. 6345)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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