Argyropelecus Gilbert and Kramer, 1897
Body laterally compressed, deep; eyes tubular, directed dorsally; mouth vertical; pseudobranch present; gillrakers well developed; branchiostegal rays 10, 3 on epihyal. Dorsal adipose fin present; dorsal blade long, derived from 7 supraneurals, the exposed parts of posterior 2 fused together; post-temporal spine small (except post-larvae); post-abdominal spines (iliac) well developed, abdominal keel well defined. Pelvic fin with 6 finrays.
Photophores: (adult) (configuration of compound light organs differ in A. affinis and A. gigas but number of photophores per group is the same). ORB I pigmented, directed towards eye lens; BR (6); OP 3, OP3 first photophore to develop; IP (6); PV (12); VAV (4); ACI (6); AC2 (4); OA (2) + 6.
Temperate to tropical, oceanic and pseudoceanic, mesopelagic fishes, greatest depth about 800 m; most species make short diel vertical migrations. Feeding on small crustaceans, annelids, chaetognaths, molluscs, gelatinous organisms, fishes etc.... Dioecious.
Species 7; in Clofnam area 5.
Recent revisions: Haruta (1975); Borodulina (1978); Pafort-van Iersel (1981).
Species of this genus in the program:
Argyropelecus aculeatus
Argyropelecus affinis
Argyropelecus gigas
Argyropelecus hemigymnus
Argyropelecus olfersi