Bajacalifornia megalops
No common name
NS
GNR
Collection Details
Specimens
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Taxonomic Hierarchy
Alepocephalidae (Slickheads)
Bajacalifornia
Bajacalifornia megalops
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Moderately elongate, moderately slender, and compressed, with large eyes and a ventrally directed conical knob at tip of snout. Snout length ranges from 90% to 130% of orbit diameter. Head length is of moderate size and is greater than body depth. Orbit diameter is 7.2% to 10.8% of SL. Maxilla has teeth along ventral margin and extends to posterior margin of pupil. Teeth are in single row in upper and lower jaws. Gill rakers on first arch number 5 to 7 on epibranch, 1 in corner, and 17 to 21 on lower limb. Pectoral fin is small and has 12 to 17 rays. Dorsal fin originates distinctly anterior to anal fin origin and has 14 to 19 rays. Pelvic fin inserts posterior to midlength and has 7 to 9 rays. Anal fin has 13 to 16 rays. Pyloric caecae number 11 to 26, trunk vertebrae number 31 to 32, and tail vertebrae number 19 to 20. Body, exclusive of head, is covered with moderate-sized scales.
Color is brownish.
Distribution
Along the eastern seaboard of the United States from about 40°N to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
Habitat Associations
Mesopelagic and bathypelagic between 250 and 3,182 m (larvae and juveniles), benthopelagic from 820 to 1,425 m (adults)
Biology
Maximum known size is 28 cm SL.
Mesopelagic to benthopelagic (Ref. 2711). Adults usually in 820-1,425 m (Ref. 2711).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2012-07-11. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Phylogeny and Morphologically Similar Fishes
Distinguished from the other species of the family by the combination of characters described.
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest.
References
Parr 1952b (as B. drakei)
Markle and Quero 1984
Markle 1986
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Markle, D.F. and J.-C. Quéro (1984) Alepocephalidae (including Bathylaconidae, Bathyprionidae). p. 228-253. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 1.
Bianchi, G., K.E. Carpenter, J.-P. Roux, F.J. Molloy, D. Boyer and H.J. Boyer (1999) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. Field guide to the living marine resources of Namibia. FAO, Rome. 265 p.
Russian Academy of Sciences (2000) Catalog of vertebrates of Kamchatka and adjacent waters. Kamchatsky Pechatny Dvor, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. 166 p.
Hureau, J.-C. and T. Monod (eds.) (1979) Supplement. Check-list of the fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and of the Mediterranean. p.339-394. In J.-C. Hureau and Th. Monod (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and of the Mediterranean.United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Paris, France. Vols 1-2. 683 p.
Coad, B.W. and J.D. Reist (2004) Annotated list of the arctic marine fishes of Canada. Can. MS Rep. Fish Aquat. Sci. 2674:iv:+112 p.
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