| Melamphaidae (Bigscale fishes or ridgeheads) |
| 12.8 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 62 - 500 m |
| Eastern Pacific Ocean: tropical, endemic to ETP, from the California coast (ca. 30°N) down to northern Chilean coast (ca. 23°S). |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-16; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-8; Vertebrae: 27-28. The species is characterized by the following: large head (more than 40% of SL, specimens of SL ? 100.0 mm); first gill arch with 20-22 rakers; total vertebrae 26-28, 11 abdominal; haemal arch of the first caudal vertebra is without a spur; D III,13-16; P14-15; ventral fin with 7 soft rays; ventral fin starts before the vertical line of the posterior margin of the pectoral fin basement; anal fin starts under the vertical line of the 3-4 ray of the dorsal fin (posterior end); operculum with 4 scales (Ref. 87970). |
| Adults caught below 400-500 meters; juveniles in shallower water (Ref. 51657). Specimens were sampled by open-mouth nets at depth range of 1500-0 m; the minimal sampling depth was 62 m (individuals with SL = 12.7-13.3 mm) (Ref. 87970). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 30 December 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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