Teleostei (teleosts) >
Scombriformes (Mackerels) >
Trichiuridae (Cutlassfishes) > Aphanopodinae
Etymology: Benthodesmus: Greek, benthos = depth of the sea + Greek, desmos = bond, chain (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 178 - 950 m (Ref. 6181). Deep-water; 9°S - 44°S, 30°E - 26°W (Ref. 6181)
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: off south Brazil and Argentina, Rio Grande Rise, southeastern Africa, Madagascar Ridge, southeastern Australia, New Zealand, Sala y Gomez Ridge.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 57 - ? cm
Max length : 100.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9351)
Juveniles mesopelagic (Ref. 6181); also benthopelagic (Ref. 5951). Feeds on crustaceans (mainly prawns and euphausiids), small fishes (e.g. Maurolicus) and squid (Ref. 6202). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 36453.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Batch spawners with 5,000 to 16,000 eggs per spawn.
Nakamura, I. and N.V. Parin, 1993. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 15. Snake mackerels and cutlassfishes of the world (families Gempylidae and Trichiuridae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the snake mackerels, snoeks, escolars, gemfishes, sackfishes, domine, oilfish, cutlassfishes,. scabbardfishes, hairtails, and frostfishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(15):136 p. (Ref. 6181)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: bycatch
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