Teleostei (teleosts) >
Acropomatiformes (Oceanic basses) >
Epigonidae (Deepwater cardinalfishes)
Etymology: Epigonus: Greek, epi = over, in front + Greek, gonio = angle (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Risso.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 75 - 1305 m (Ref. 4738), usually 300 - 800 m (Ref. 4738). Deep-water; 65°N - 43°S
North Atlantic: Iceland to the Canary Islands and Corner Seamounts. One specimen off North America (Ref. 7321). Southeast Atlantic, Indian and Southwest Pacific: Walvis Ridge off southwestern Africa to New Zealand.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 56.0 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 75.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5755); common length : 55.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9258); max. reported age: 104 years (Ref. 39263)
Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 9. No opercular spines. 8 spines on first dorsal fin (Ref. 31632). Snout blunt, eye large. Mouth large, lower jaw equaling or slightly protruding beyond upper jaw. Pyloric caeca 21-34. Brown-violet or black, iridescent in life.
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Adults benthic or benthopelagic on the continental slopes; juveniles pelagic (Ref. 7321). Found on soft bottoms (Ref. 27121). Non-territorial. Carnivorous, feed on small fishes and planktonic invertebrates.
Maugé, L.A. and G.F. Mayer, 1990. Apogonidae. p. 714-718. 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. 2. (Ref. 7321)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
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