Ateleopus japonicus Bleeker, 1853
Pacific jellynose fish
Ateleopus japonicus
photo by The Fish Database of Taiwan

Family:  Ateleopodidae (Jellynose fishes)
Max. size:  95 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 140 - 600 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: southern Japan. More recent works report of its occurrence in Taiwan (Ref. 5193), Malaysia (Ref. 5756) and the Chesterfield Islands (Ref. 11897).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 0-0. Longest ray of pelvic fin thin, long reaching to or near tip of pectoral fin. Lip of upper jaw thin. Upper jaw with a short band of villiform teeth; lower jaw, palatine, pre vomer and tongue toothless. Body purplish-brown, semi-transparent. Attain 95 cm SL.
Biology:  Feeds on prawns (Ref. 27550).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Collected during the 2011 Hearst Expedition (Ref. 95664).


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