Sigmops elongatus (Günther, 1878)
Elongated bristlemouth fish
photo by Reyes, R.B.

Family:  Gonostomatidae (Bristlemouths)
Max. size:  27.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 25 - 4740 m
Distribution:  Worldwide. Mediterranean (Ref. 85016). Eastern Atlantic: scattered records from Iceland (Ref. 4769) south to Cape Verde and Gulf of Guinea; also between 30°S-35°S. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 27768). North Atlantic: 65°-30°N. Indo-Pacific: in tropical and subtropical waters. Eastern Pacific: found in California and Baja California (Ref. 35800), and Chile (Ref. 9068). Indian Ocean, tropical and subtropical waters (Ref. 47377). South China Sea and East China Sea (Ref.74511).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-15; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 27-32; Vertebrae: 39-41. Black in color, slightly silvery laterally; fins dusky and with small black spots; distal portion of pectorals and pelvic fins colorless (Ref. 3991). Dorsal adipose fin present. Branchiostegal rays: 12-13 (Ref. 35800).
Biology:  Meso- to bathypelagic (Ref. 58302). Occur between 100-200 m and 500-800 m at night and 25-600 m and 1,250-1,500 m during the day (Ref. 4463). Feed on crustaceans and small fishes (Ref. 4769). Photophores develop in fishes over 6-22 mm SL (Ref. 4769). Protandric hermaphrodite, oviparous with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 35800). Minimum depth from Ref. 4463.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
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