Melamphaes simus
No common name
NS
GNR
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Melamphaidae (Ridgeheads)
Melamphaes
Melamphaes simus
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
Oblong and subcylindrical body shape; relatively smooth head; relatively long dorsal fin; thin and not expanded head ridge margins; indistinct internarial spine; teeth in jaws arranged in bands with 4-7 rows in upper jaw and 3-5 rows in lower jaw; 3 or 4 gill rakers on epibranch and 12 to 15 on lower limb; 8 branchiostegal rays; well-developed supramaxilla; head length 34-40% SL; upper jaw length 15-18% SL; predorsal length 41-45% SL; caudal peduncle length 23-26% SL; caudal peduncle depth 9-12% SL; 14-16 pectoral fin rays; dorsal fin with 3 spines and 15-17 rays; pelvic fin with 1 spine and 7 rays, located slightly behind pectoral fin insertion; anal fin with 1 spine and 8 or 9 rays; 32-36 scales in lateral series; 10 or 11 scales in diagonal series; 2 cheek scales; small head pores; 28-30 vertebrae
Dark brown to blackish
Distribution
Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea in the western Atlantic
Habitat Associations
Generally found below 100 or 200 m; postlarvae and juveniles occur between 35 and 40 m
Biology
Maximum known size is 29 mm SL
Adults found mainly below 150-200 m (Ref. 6747). Larvae and juveniles primarily found in depths as shallow as 35-40 m (Ref. 36655). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 36655). Collections were done mainly by using nonclosing nets (Ref. 117121).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders. Oviparous (Ref. 36655).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2015-07-01. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Phylogeny and Morphologically Similar Fishes
Distinguished from other species of the family by the combination of characters described
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest.
References
Ebeling 1962
Rass 1971
Ebeling and Weed 1973
Murdy et al. 1983
Ebeling, A.W. (1986) Melamphaidae. p. 427-432. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Maul, G.E. (1986) Melamphaidae. p. 756-765. 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. 2.
Sandknop, E.M. and W. Watson (1996) Melamphaidae: bigscales. p. 692-711. In H.G. Moser (ed.) The early stages of fishes in the California Current region. California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Atlas No. 33. 1505 p.
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