Microstoma microstoma
No common name
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Microstomatidae (Marine Smelts)
Microstoma
Microstoma microstoma
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
Body depth at dorsal fin origin 7.3% to 7.7% SL, body depth at caudal peduncle 4.3% to 5% SL, head length 18.9% to 20.2% SL, snout length 3.3% to 4.7% SL. Head of vomer and possibly palatine with delicate, needlelike teeth. Maxilla lacks teeth. Dentaries with compressed, close-set teeth. Tongue lacks teeth. Lower limb of first gill arch with 14 gill rakers. Branchiostegal rays number 2. Pectoral fin with 7 to 8 rays. Dorsal fin with 9 to 11 rays, originating posterior to pelvic fin. Pelvic fin with 10 to 11 rays. Anal fin originates posterior to dorsal fin insertion. Adipose fin absent. Scales deciduous. Lateral line scales wider and more adherent than body scales, extending onto caudal fin.
Silvery, with operculum, caudal peduncle, and ventral midline of body anterior to pelvic fin dark.
Distribution
Western Atlantic: captured once in the western Gulf of Mexico off Tampico, Mexico.
Habitat Associations
Pelagic, most frequently captured in surface waters over depths greater than 1,000 m.
Biology
Maximum known size is 197 mm SL.
Mesopelagic species (Ref. 3978, 58302). Generally solitary. Probably feeds on zooplankton. Spawns throughout the year in the Mediterranean, more in winter.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2014-07-10.
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
Grey 1956
Cohen 1958a
Cohen 1964a
Rass 1971
Cohen, D.M. (1986) Argentinidae. p. 215-216. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Cohen, D.M. (1984) Argentinidae (including Microstomatidae). p. 386-391. 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, Volume 1. Unesco, Paris.
Comments On Microstoma microstoma