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Beryciformes (Sawbellies) >
Melamphaidae (Bigscale fishes or ridgeheads)
Etymology: Melamphaes: Greek, melan, -anos = black + Greek, amphi = both side (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 150 - 350 m (Ref. 51657). Deep-water; 11°N - 4°S (Ref. 87970)
Eastern Atlantic: tropical, mostly equatorial.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 87970)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 27. The species is characterized by the following: gill rakers of first gill arch 21; vertebrae 27 (11 abdominal vertebrae); haemal arch of the first caudal vertebra without spur; D III,14-15; P 15; soft rays in ventral fin 7; ventral fin starts after the vertical line of the posterior margin of the pectoral fin basement; anal fin starts under the vertical line of the 3-4 ray of the dorsal fin (posterior end); operculum with 4 scales (Ref. 87970).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Adults found at depths of 15 - 300 meters (Ref. 51657). Specimens captured by bottom trawling at 1550 m depth; reported night catches of juveniles at 150-300 m depth and more (Ref. 87970).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kotlyar, A.N., 2011. Revision of genus Melamphaes (Melamphaidae). II. Multi-raker species: M. polylepis, M. falsidicus sp. nova, M. pachystomus sp. nova, M. macrocephalus, M. leprus. J. Ichthyol. 51(8):658-661. (Ref. 87970)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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