Argyropelecus hemigymnus

Argyropelecus hemigymnus captured a shrimp. Underwater Photo from the Strait of Messina

Argyropelecus hemigymnus is a deep sea fish of the family of deep-sea Beilfische ( Sternoptychidae ), is present in almost all tropical and temperate seas worldwide, including in the Western and Central Mediterranean and North East Atlantic north of the British Isles.

Features

Argyropelecus hemigymnus is a maximum of 3.9 cm in length and has the deep-sea - Beilfische typical, deep -bellied, laterally strongly flattened shape. Its coloration is bright silvery and dark at night. The number of vertebrae is 36 to 39, at the 10th of Branchiostegalstrahlen

  • Fins formula: Dorsal 8-9, Anal2 11-12.

Way of life

Argyropelecus hemigymnus lives usually in depths from 250 to 600 meters, but we caught it in depths of up to 2400 meters. Adult animals perform vertical migrations. They live singly or in small groups and feed on copepods, other crustaceans, small fish and other small prey. Eggs and larvae of fish are planktonic.

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