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Lophotus lacepede Giorna, 1809 Crested oarfish |
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photo by
Ragonese, S. |
| Family: | Lophotidae (Crestfishes) | |||
| Max. size: | 200 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 92 m, oceanodromous | |||
| Distribution: | Northeastern Atlantic and western Mediterranean. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 206-263; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 5-20; Vertebrae: 124-153. Head and body silvery in color and possibly with silvery spots; fins red (Ref. 4165). | |||
| Biology: | A rare (Ref. 4165), oceanic, mesopelagic species. Occasionally stranded in shallow water (Ref. 9563). Capable of discharging a black ink from an ink-sac in the cloaca when alarmed. Adults feed on fishes (anchovies) and squids (Ref. 6740). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 36608). Found in stomachs of tunas (Ref. 2850). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 July 2014 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||