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Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Stephanoberyciformes (Pricklefishes, bigscales and gibberfishes) > Melamphaidae (Bigscale fishes or ridgeheads)
Etymology: Melamphaes: Greek, melan, -anos = black + Greek, amphi = both side (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 62 - 500 m (Ref. 51657). Deep-water, preferred ?; 30°N - 23°S, 120°W - 130°W (Ref. 87970)

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

Eastern Pacific Ocean: tropical, endemic to ETP, from the California coast (ca. 30°N) down to northern Chilean coast (ca. 23°S).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 12.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 87970)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-16; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 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).

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

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Kotlyar, A.N., 2011. Revision of genus Melamphaes (Melamphaidae). II. Multi-raker species: M. polylepis, M. falsidicus sp. nova, M. pachystomus sp. nova, M. macrocephalus, M. leprus. J. Ichthyol. 51(8):658-661. (Ref. 87970)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Not Evaluated

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

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Internet sources

Melamphaes macrocephalus Parr, 1931