Hatchetfish

View data on Catalog of Fishes here.

Body elongate, tail slender; eyes normal; mouth large; premaxillary teeth uniserial, dentary teeth biserial anteriorly; gill rakers on first arch 11–13 + 46 = 15–19; branchiostegal rays 12, 4 on epihyal. Dorsal-fin rays 10 –12, followed by a dorsal adipose fin long based, situated slightly posterior to anal midpoint; pectoral finrays 8; pelvic finrays 6–7, its base well in advance of dorsal fin origin; anal-fin rays 24–26, its origin about beneath or anterior to dorsal midpoint, its base length more than twice dorsal fin base; last dorsal- and anal- fin rays usually split to base. Vertebrae 43–44. Photophores (adult): ORB 2; SO l; BR 8; OP 3; IV 21–22 VAV 7–9; AC 18–21, eighth and/or ninth AC photophore(s) slightly elevated; AC level, 13–15 over anal fin; OA 19–21. Glandular material absent on head and body. Color dark. flanks silvery.

For a key to photophore terminology, click here.

The only known species of the genus, P. mauli is distinguished form all other phosichthyids on the basis of the following characters: anal-fin base more than twice dorsal-fin base; anal-fin rays 22–30, AC photophores 19–21, 13–15 over anal fin; eighth and/or nith IV photophore(s) slightly elevated

Circumglobal, subropical and tropical waters.

Oceanic and mesopelagic; pre-metamorphic and post-larvae near surface; juveniles and adults centred at 300–600 m by day; a diel vertical migrator; majority of juveniles and adults migrate into upper 200 m at night.

Badcock J. 1984. Photichthyidae. pp. 318–324. In: P.J.P. Whitehead MLB, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen, and E. Tortonese editor. Fishes of the Northeastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Paris: UNESCO. p 1473 pp.

Badcock J. 1984. Photichthyidae. pp. 318–324. In: P.J.P. Whitehead MLB, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen, and E. Tortonese editor. Fishes of the Northeastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Paris: UNESCO. p 1473 pp.

To 60 mm SL.

30 miles southwest of Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo, South Atlantic, 5°15'S, 11°29'E, depth 225–240 meters.

Holotype: IRSNB 134.

An oceanic and mesopelagic species, adults and juveniles usually found at 200-500 m by day and the majority of them migrate into upper 100-200 m at night. Feeds mainly on small crustaceans.

Dark dorsum, flanks silver (Ref. 3988). Slender body, longer anal fin and tail set (Ref. 37473).

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 22 - 30

An oceanic and mesopelagic species, adults and juveniles usually found at 200-500 m by day and the majority of them migrate into upper 100-200 m at night. Feeds mainly on small crustaceans. Dioecious with peak spawning during summer. Adult photophore complement attained at about 25-27 mm SL (Ref. 4778).

廣泛分布於印度-太平洋及大西洋海域之中層洋帶。台灣海域紀錄深度約200-400公尺。

背鰭軟條數：10-12; 臀鰭軟條數：22-30; 胸鰭軟條數：7-8; 腹鰭軟條數：6-7; 鰓耙數：上枝 5 +下枝11-12 = 16-17;脊椎骨數：43-44; 發光器排列：SO 1; BR 7-8; IP 7 + 2 = 9; PV 14-15; VAV 8-9; AC 16 + 5-6 = 21-22; IC 52-55; OV 13-14; VAL 10-12; OA 23-25; 身體細長，尾鰭基部長度大於背鰭基部。體色：身體呈乳白色，體側呈銀白色。

The stareye lightfish (Pollichthys mauli) is a species in the monotypic genus of Pollichthys. They are small stomiiform fishes found in oceans throughout the world. The maximum length is 6 cm.

Feeds on small crustaceans

Scotian shelf to Caribbean Sea

mesopelagic species; occasionally found in Canadian Atlantic waters; found at depths of 200- 500 m (day), 100- 200 m (night)

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