Aphanopus intermedius Parin, 1983
Intermediate scabbardfish
Aphanopus intermedius
photo by FAO

Family:  Trichiuridae (Cutlassfishes), subfamily: Aphanopodinae
Max. size:  148 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 300 - 1408 m
Distribution:  Atlantic Ocean: in moderately warm and tropical waters; it has not been found only off the coast of South America. In the eastern Atlantic, it is found off western Sahara, Congo and Angola, from Sierra Leone submarine rise and Pilberry Seamount (Ref. 10818).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 39-44; Dorsal soft rays (total): 54-59; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 46-50; Vertebrae: 102-108. Pelvic fins represented by a single spine in juveniles inserted before the base of the pectoral fins but entirely absent in adults. Body is coppery black with iridescent tint. The inside of the mouth and gill cavities black.
Biology:  Adults benthopelagic from 800 to 1,350 m, juveniles mesopelagic from 300 to 500 m (Ref. 6181). Up until recently, fisheries catch landings of A. carbo, a sympatric species in the waters of Canary and Madeira islands, were mixed with A. intemedius.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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