Giant Hatchetfish

View data on Catalog of Fishes here.

Dorsal-fin rays 9 (rarely 10); anal-fin rays 12–13; P. 10–11; total gill rakers 18–21; vertebrae 38–39. Giant species, often exceeding 110 mm SL; trunk triangulate, body depth at end of dorsal fewer than 3.3 times into SL; caudal peduncle deep, its depth nearly equal to subcaudal photophore length; dorsal spine high, its height greater than one-third its length; post-temporal spine prominent; postabdominal spines symmetrical; preopercle spines as in A. affinis: jaws large; teeth small, recurved, a pair of larger canine teeth in upper jaw (premaxilla); gill rakers well developed; parietals, posttemporal, frontals and sphenotics with prominent spines or flanges; in preservative pigment in small spots along midline; very heavy mucoid secretion often present.

Supra-abdominal, preanal, anal, and subcaudal photophores in a nearly continuous in a straight line; subcaudal photophores separate, an appreciable gap between each photophore; 3 separate hypural elements in lower caudal lobe. Dorsal blade high, its height greater than one-third its length; body margin markedly raised posterior to dorsal blade; ventral keel scales extend well below abdominal photophores forming flaplike process; prominent laterally directed sphenotic spine near dorsal, posterior edge of orbit. Differs from A. affinis, the most similar species, by its broader body depth and trunk; more distinct trunk striations; relatively shorter teeth in lower jaw; more well-developed post-temporal spines; rough dorsal body surface; and more well-developed neurocranial crests (frontals, sphenotics, and parietals).

Although occurring in all oceans except the North Pacific, this species appears quite restricted locally. It is taken in abundance in the Gulf of Guinea, in the eastern North Atlantic off North Africa and southern Spain, in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and off Chile in the South Pacific; small catches of this species are recorded along longitude 67°E from the equator to 40°S in the Indian Ocean, across the South Pacific between 35° S and 50° S from Chile to Zealand in the South Pacific, and between New York and Cape in the North Atlantic. Additional records: 36°35'S, 95°28'E.

Concentrated between 400 m and 600 m; no indication of diurnal vertical movement or marked geographic variation in depth distribution.

Baird RC. 1971. The Systematics, Distribution, and Zoogeography of the Marine Hatchetfishes (family Sternoptychidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zooology 142(1):1–128.

Baird RC. 1971. The Systematics, Distribution, and Zoogeography of the Marine Hatchetfishes (family Sternoptychidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zooology 142(1):1–128.

A large species often growing beyong 110 mm SL.

Atlantic, 2°49'30"S, 9°25'30"W, depth 800–1000 meters.

Holotype: BMNH 1930.1.12.328 (or 329).

Dorsal blade present and well developed in front of dorsal fin (Ref. 27363). Deep body (Ref. 37473).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 12 - 13

An oceanic and mesopelagic species (Ref. 4739). No indication of diel migration (Ref. 4739). Adult complement of photophores acquired at about 1.4 cm SL (Ref. 4739).

fisheries: of no interest

全球性種類。臺灣分布於西南部及東沙群島。

一般以底拖網捕獲，不具食用經濟價值，通常做為下雜魚用。

巨大的種類，通常超過110mm SL。D 8-9﹔P 8-9﹔V 5-6﹔A 12-13﹔GR17-19﹔脊椎骨38-39。胸上發光器，臀前發光器，臀部發光器幾乎成一直線。尾下發光器發光器間距離大。頜大，齒小彎曲。前頜骨有成對大的犬齒。鰓耙發達。背刀上的背棘高，高於背刀長的1/3；背緣會向背刀的第三背棘及第四背棘間突起。口鼻部有角度。後顳骨棘突起。腹部發光器的鱗片平滑，所延伸的腹稜脊深。

大洋性中層魚類，成體無明顯的垂直迴游。以橈腳類、端足類、介形蟲、磷蝦和小魚等為食。

Argyropelecus gigas, the giant hatchetfish or greater silver hatchetfish, is a marine fish of the genus Argyropelecus. It is found in every ocean except the north Pacific in the mesopelagic zone of tropical and subtropical waters. "Giant" in relative terms only, this is the largest species of marine hatchetfishes, often exceeding 110 millimetres (4.3 in) standard length.

Scotian shelf to the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Occasionally found in Canadian Atlantic waters. Found at depths of 300- 650 m.

nektonic

Known from seamounts and knolls