Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Aulopiformes (Grinners) >
Bathysauridae (deepsea lizardfishes)
Etymology: Bathysaurus: Greek, bathys = deep + Greek, sauros = lizard (Ref. 45335). More on author: Günther.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 1550 - 4903 m (Ref. 58302), usually ? - 2000 m (Ref. 4472). Deep-water; 50°N - 20°S, 180°W - 180°E
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 78.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4472); common length : 40.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4472)
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 16-17;
Anal
soft rays: 13;
Vertebrae: 50 - 51. Moderately elongate and slender. Slightly depressed anteriorly and compressed posteriorly. Color generally white, with peritoneum, branchial and buccal regions dark. Small specimens have faint vertical bars (Ref. 37039).
Circumglobal between latitude 50°N-20°S except tropical eastern Pacific. Eastern Atlantic: northern Ireland; Morocco to Gabon.
Benthic (Ref. 58302). Found on the continental rise and the abyss, commonly below 2,000 m, in water colder than 4°C. Larvae are probably pelagic in near-surface midwaters. Solitary, lurking bottom feeder. Probably piscivore (Ref. 4964).
Sulak, K.J., 1990. Synodontidae. p. 365-370. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 1.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
More information
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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (-0.30300 - 0.32300), b=3.04000 (2.92100 - 3.15900), based on all LWR estimates for this BS (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 4.5 ±0.80 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming tmax>10).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (51 of 100) .