Benthodesmus pacificus Parin & Becker, 1970
North-Pacific frostfish
photo by FAO

Family:  Trichiuridae (Cutlassfishes), subfamily: Aphanopodinae
Max. size:  112 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 100 - 1000 m
Distribution:  North Pacific: off Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Kyushu-Palau Ridge, British Columbia, Canada and California, USA.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 44-46; Dorsal soft rays (total): 99-104; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 90-94; Vertebrae: 149-153. Body silvery, jaws and opercle blackish. The inside of the mouth and gill cavities black.
Biology:  Occurs from 305 m (depth of specimens hooked off Manazuru, Japan) and deeper, sometimes migrating to the surface. Juveniles mesopelagic from 100 to 500 (1000) m depth.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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 Not for publication.