Cubiceps pauciradiatus Günther, 1872
Bigeye cigarfish
photo by Dubosc, J.

Family:  Nomeidae (Driftfishes)
Max. size:  20 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 4 years
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 58 - 1000 m
Distribution:  Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: circumtropical.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 14-16; Vertebrae: 30-31. Light tan to brown in color; caudal fin dusky, other fins clear (Ref. 4412). Teeth patches on midline of roof of mouth and tongue large, broad and granular (sometimes partly obscured by mucous) (Ref 9834).
Biology:  Occurs from the border of the continental shelf to about 1,000 m depth (Ref. 13628). Found near the surface at night (Ref. 9834). Adults feed mainly on salps (Ref. 33689).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 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 Not for publication.