Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and dragonfishes) >
Sternoptychidae (Marine hatchetfishes) > Sternoptychinae
Etymology: Argyropelecus: Greek, argyros = silvered, silver + Greek, pelekys = axe (Ref. 45335). More on author: Regan.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 0 - 2926 m (Ref. 26165). Deep-water, preferred ?; 46°N -
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: in tropical waters. Eastern Atlantic: Cape Blanc, Mauritania to Namibia. Eastern Pacific: Oregon to southern California in the USA (Ref. 265). Southeast Pacific: Chile (Ref. 9068). South China Sea (Ref.74511).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27000)
Mesopelagic (Ref. 58302). Found in 50-600 m during the day and 100-375 m at night (Ref. 4054). Feed on copepods (Ref. 6885). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 35838).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Quéro, J.-C., J.C. Njock and M.M. de la Hoz, 1990. Sternoptychidae. p. 275-282. 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. 1. (Ref. 4462)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5078 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01820 (0.00674 - 0.04911), b=3.00 (2.76 - 3.24), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.16 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tmax>3).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (17 of 100) .