Regalecus Ascanius, 1772
Diagnosis: elongate and compressed ribbon- like body; anus on the anterior third of body. Head short, its bones very thin and fragile; mouth small, vertical, protrusible. Dorsal fin extending along whole of body, first few finrays on nape elongate with fleshy membrane at tip; no anal fin; caudal fin rudimentary, except in young where it consists of some long free finrays; pectoral fins small, inserted horizontally; pelvic fins of a single, elongate ray fringed by a distally expanded membrane. Skin naked, studded with hard tubercles set in more or less longitudinal bands or ridges; lateral line running along lower sides of body and consisting of a chain of oblong plates loosely embedded in the skin. Colour: body silvery with oblique dusky bars, head bluish, fins deep red. Size: to 7 m SL.
Habitat: mesopelagic to about 1,000 m. Only taken in surface waters by accident; occasionally mutilated specimens appear floating at surface or are thrown onto shore after gales. Food: probably euphausiid crustaceans, small fishes and squids. Reproduction: very few data; relatively large eggs (2.5 mm) and larvae have been found near the surface in the Mediterranean in winter.
Distribution: Icelandic waters, North Sea, eastern North Atlantic and Mediterranean. Elsewhere, most tropical and temperate seas.
Species 1.
Species of this genus in the program:
Regalecus glesne