Teleostei (teleosts) >
Lophiiformes (Anglerfishes) >
Melanocetidae (Black Seadevils)
Etymology: Melanocetus: Greek, 'melas' or 'melanos' = black + Greek, 'ketos' = any large sea creature, more often referring to a whale (Ref. 86949).
Eponymy: Sir John Murray (1841–1914) was a Canadian marine naturalist often described as the founder of modern oceanography. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 100 - 6370 m (Ref. 58302), usually 1000 - 2500 m (Ref. 58302). Deep-water; 65°N - 60°S, 180°W - 180°E
Tropical to temperate parts of all oceans.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 2.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4491); 12.0 cm TL (female)
Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 14; Anal soft rays: 4. Distinguishing characteristics of metamorphosed female: deeply concave anterior margin of vomer, least outside width between frontals 9.1-17.8% SL; upper jaw with 34-178 teeth, lower jaw 46-142 teeth; length of longest tooth in lower jaw 7.7-16.7% SL; width of pectoral fin lobe 6.1-8.9% SL; width of escal bulb 1.9-5.1% SL; length of illicium 23.1-37.2% SL; esca with minute crests or absent; skin with minute spinules restricted to caudal peduncle; relatively thin integument 0.48 mm (Ref. 86949). Distinguishing characteristics of metamorphosed male: upper denticular with 9-12 ventrally directed anterior teeth and posteromedial series of 3-5 teeth; lower denticular 10-13 teeth; posterior nostril contiguous with eye; 12-14 olfactory lamellae; skin naked or with few scattered dermal spinules (Ref. 86949).
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep.
Meso- (Ref. 58302) and bathypelagic (Ref. 58302, 75154). Males dwarfed, non-parasitic (Ref. 4491).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Bertelsen, E., 1990. Melanocetidae. p. 492-493. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 1. (Ref. 4491)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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![Image of Melanocetus murrayi (Murray\](/images/thumbnails/gif/tn_Memur_u0.gif "Image of Melanocetus murrayi (Murray\")
