Pseudocyttus maculatus Gilchrist, 1906
Smooth oreo dory
Pseudocyttus maculatus
photo by SeaFIC

Family:  Oreosomatidae (Oreos), subfamily: Pseudocyttinae
Max. size:  68 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 5,000.0 g; max. reported age: 100 years
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 400 - 1500 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Southwest Atlantic: off Uruguay to Argentina and the Falklands. Southeast Atlantic: Namibia to South Africa, including the northern part of Walvis Ridge (Ref. 6545). South Pacific: off southern Chile, Bellingshausen and Australian-Antarctic Basin to New Zealand, New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia and the Kerguelen Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 5-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 33-36; Anal spines: 2-3; Anal soft rays: 31-34; Vertebrae: 40-43. First dorsal spine longer than second dorsal spine. Opercles fully scaled (Ref. 27159). Female adult chocolate brown in color with darker fins; prejuveniles silvery with numerous dark spots of various sizes which become larger with age (Ref. 6548).
Biology:  Inhabit continental slopes of all southern continents (Ref. 6545). Adults found near the bottom; juveniles near the surface, usually in association with krill (Ref. 5194). Feed mainly on salps (Ref. 27150). Eggs float near the sea surface and larvae also inhabit surface waters (Ref. 6390). There is no vertical migration during the day or night (Ref. 27150).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.