Polyacanthonotus africanus (Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924)
photo by SFSA

Family:  Notacanthidae (Deep-sea spiny eels)
Max. size:  50 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 700 - 3000 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: off Morocco, the Azores and Canary Islands and South Africa. Western Atlantic: New Jersey, USA to the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. The record from Davis Strait probably refers to Polyacanthonotus rissoanus.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 26-40; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0. Off white, tan or grey in color, lateral line darker; soft rayed portion of anal dark brown (Ref. 6594). Mouth bluish in front, black behind (Ref. 6594). Opercular flap and underside of head bluish (Ref. 6594). Broad separation of the anterior and posterior nostrils. First dorsal spine well posterior to the root of the pectoral fin. Large mouth, maxillary reaching the border of spectacle and much longer preoral snout (Ref. 37108).
Biology:  Found at bathyal and abyssal depths. Feeds on benthic polychaetes, cnidarians, amphipods (Ref. 4449).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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