Author: Bekker, 1965
Hygophum taaningi Bekker, 1965
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Hygophum taaningi Becker, 1965 (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: dorsal finrays 12-14, anal finrays 17-23; pectoral finrays 12-15. Gillrakers 4-5 + 1 + 11-15, total 16-21 (ranges only given mean values exhibit clinal variation with latitudinal distribution). AO 3-7 + 3-8, total 9-13. Males with single massive supra-caudal gland, extending about 80% of distance from procurrent caudal rays to adipose base; females with 2-4 small elongate luminous patches, sometimes coalesced. Size: to 61 mm.
Habitat: high-oceanic, mesopelagic: day at 475-1,000 m; nyctoepipelagic at surface and down to 250 m (maximum abundance at 100 m). Some juveniles non-migratory. Food: no data. Reproduction: caudal glands develop in both sexes at 23 mm; sexually mature from about 46 mm.
Distribution: endemic Atlantic: broadly tropical pattern (thermophilic eurytropical subpattern), south of 40° N to about 30° S (western sector) and to 22° S (eastern sector).
Eggs, larvae and young stages. Moser and Ahlström; 1974: 397, fig. 4 E.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.