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Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Osmeriformes (Smelts) > Microstomatidae (Pencil smelts)
Etymology: Microstoma: Greek, mikros = small + Greek,stoma = mouth (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; bathypelagic. Deep-water, preferred ?; 55°N - 49°S, 180°W - 180°E

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Probably worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. Eastern Atlantic: southern Ireland, scattered records in western Mediterranean, also Madeira Islands. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 27768). Western Pacific: Australia (Ref. 7300) and New Zealand (Ref. 5755).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 21.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3978)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 7 - 9; Vertebrae: 44 - 45. Body silvery, darker near tail (Ref. 3978). Swim bladder faintly colored. Adults mostly silver (Ref. 37473).

Mesopelagic species (Ref. 3978, 58302). Generally solitary. Probably feeds on zooplankton. Spawns throughout the year in the Mediterranean, more in winter.

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Cohen, D.M., 1984. Argentinidae (including Microstomatidae). p. 386-391. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Volume 1. Unesco, Paris. (Ref. 4773)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: of no interest

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Microstoma microstoma (Risso, 1810)