Ariomma melana (Ginsburg, 1954)
Brown driftfish
photo by JAMARC

Family:  Ariommatidae (Ariommatids)
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 180 - 600 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Mauritania to Angola; possibly straying to southern Africa (Ref. 4412). Western Atlantic: New York and northern Gulf of Mexico in USA to Panama (Ref. 7251), [extending to the northern coast of South America according to Ref. 13628], up to Uruguay (Ref. 47377). Not occurring in the West Indies (Ref. 7251).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-17; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 13-16. Live specimens dark with a silver cast.
Biology:  Inhabits deep waters, usually on soft bottoms (Ref. 2683). Feeds mainly on small crustaceans (Ref. 3547). Larvae and young are epipelagic, adults demersal or benthopelagic (Ref. 47377).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.