Teleostei (teleosts) >
Beryciformes (Sawbellies) >
Cetomimidae (Flabby whalefishes)
Etymology: Cetostoma: Greek, ketos = a marine monster, whale + Greek, stoma = mouth (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Charles Tate Regan (1878–1943) was a British ichthyologist. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 0 - 2250 m (Ref. 6715). Deep-water; 50°N - 40°S, 35°E - 13°W
Atlantic Ocean: between 50°N to 40°S; one specimen was recorded at 30°45'N, 25°47'W (Ref. 6715) and 8 specimens from 28°N, 16°E. Indian Ocean: between15°N and 31°S. Pacific Ocean: between 45°N and 15°S, and off central California, USA.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 24.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9791)
Normal diurnal distribution is between 700 and 1200 m The shallowest diurnal capture (500-600 m) is of one of the smallest specimens (4.3 cm) and the deepest (1500-1600 m) is of one of the largest (20.4 cm), indicating a trend for the diurnal depth to increase with increasing size (Ref. 9791). Nocturnal distribution is between 110-700 m (Ref. 9791). Feeds on decapods and euphausiids (Ref. 6715). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Paxton, J.R. and D.J. Blake, 1990. Cetomimidae. p. 607-608. 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, Parisl. Vol. 2. (Ref. 6532)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: bycatch
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