| Family: |
Gempylidae (Snake mackerels) |
| Max. size: |
33 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; marine; depth range 50 - 1000 m |
| Distribution: |
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: in central water masses. Rather rare, but relatively abundant in the northwest and southeast Atlantic and southeast Pacific Ref. 6181). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 30-36; Dorsal soft rays (total): 35-44; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 28-35; Vertebrae: 57-64. Body is extremely elongate and compressed. Lower jaw extends anterior to upper jaw with a small conical dermal process. Upper jaw with 3 immovable and 3 or 4 movable fang-like teeth anteriorly. Lateral line situated closer to the ventral profile than the dorsal profile posteriorly. Color is silvery with narrow dark dotted lines along the body; the gill membranes are jet-black. |
| Biology: |
Oceanic, migrating upward at night to 100 to 200 m (Ref. 6181). Probably forming schools during daytime (Ref. 6181). Feed on crustaceans and small fish (Ref. 6181). Females mature at about 16 cm (Ref. 36731). Eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 6766). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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