| Family: |
Nomeidae (Driftfishes) |
| Max. size: |
23 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 20 - 550 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: tropical and warmer temperate waters. Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to South America (Ref. 7251). Reported from southern Africa (Ref. 4412). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-28; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 23-28; Vertebrae: 31-31. Dark horizontal lines laterally (Ref. 4412).
Description: Characterized further by having predorsal scales extending forward to nostrils; scales very small in anterior patch, sharply demarcated from larger posterior scales; rounded snout; terminal jaw; small teeth, conical, mostly uniserial; deeply forked caudal fin with rounded lobes (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits the open ocean (Ref. 26340). Found under floating weeds or debris. Adults were found under large weed-rafts at a depth of about 20 meters, using the shade as cover. They also form schools (Ref. 48637). Associated with Sargassum (Ref. 26340) and jellyfish (Ref. 7251). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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