Magnisudis atlantica (Krøyer, 1868)
Duckbill barracudina
photo by Armesto, A.

Family:  Paralepididae (Barracudinas)
Max. size:  56 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 0 - 4750 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Circumglobal: From Arctic to Antarctic. Northwest Pacific: Bering Sea, Kamchatka and Kuril Islands (Ref. 41668). Eastern Pacific: southeast Alaska (59°N) to Chile (Ref. 35950). Western Atlantic: 38°N to the Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean Sea (Ref. 37039).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-12; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 20-24; Vertebrae: 60-69. Branchiostegal rays: 8.
Biology:  Oceanic species of medium depth range. Large adults approach the coasts in temperate and polar zones (Ref. 35950). Meso- and bathypelagic (Ref. 58302). Spawns throughout the year in tropical and subtropical seas (Ref. 35388). Seems to spawn in the Sargasso Sea. Feed on small fishes and shrimps. Preyed upon by sharks, tuna, and whales.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 April 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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