Author: (Cocco, 1838)
Vinciguerria attenuata (Cocco, 1838)
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Vinciguerria attenuata (Cocco, 1838) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: body moderately elongate; eyes slightly tubular; inter-orbital narrow, its minimum width less than 11% head length; head length less than length of AC photophore group; mouth large; premaxillary teeth uniserial. Meristic data for eastern North Atlantic and Mediterranean only: gillrakers on first arch 14-15 + 5 = 19-20; branchiostegal rays 12, 4 on epihyal. Dorsal finrays 13-15, followed by a short dorsal adipose fin; pectoral finrays 9-10; pelvic finrays (6) 7, its base slightly in advance of dorsal fin origin; anal finrays 13-15 (16), its origin beneath middle of dorsal fin base, its base about equal to dorsal fin base. Anus under sixth to seventh VAV photophore. Vertebrae 40-41. Photophores (adult): ORB 2; BR 8; OP 3; IV 23 (22-24); VAV 8 (7-10); AC 12-14; OA 21-22 (23). Colour: back dark, flanks silvery; lower jaw symphysis, premaxillae, finrays lacking pigment streaks; in juveniles (under 21 mm SL) caudal melanophore present in median position. Size: to 45 mm SL.
Habitat: pre-metamorphic post-larvae at 25-300 m; metamorphic postlarvae at 300-700 m; juveniles and adults centred at 250- 600 m by day; juveniles and adults make short diel vertical migrations, occurring 100-500 m at night. Food: small crustaceans. Reproduction: dioecious; peak spawning, spring early summer (Mediterranean). Adult photophore complement attained at 20 mm SL.
Distribution: circumglobal, subtropical; in Clofnam area uncommon north of Lisbon; occurs throughout Mediterranean.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. Jespersen and Tåning, 1926: 22, fig. 13-16 | Grey, 1964: 124, 145 | Sanzo, 1913: 1-7.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.