Caristius Gill and Smith, 1905
Diagnosis: to ensure exclusion of other possible species, the diagnosis given here is close to the original description: body compressed, about twice as long as high; no lateral line. Mouth small, terminal, hind tip of upper jaw not reaching beyond middle of eye; one large nostril in front of eye; teeth very small, in bands on premaxillaries and dentaries, no other teeth. Dorsal fin high and long, covering almost the length of the body; anal fin beginning below middle of dorsal fin; pelvic fins thoracic, long, their tip to beyond anal fin origin; caudal fin truncate; D 26-30; A 15-17; V 6; P 15. Colour: dark brown. Size: usually 25-30 cm SL.
Habitat: adults meso- to bathypelagic from 300 to 2,000 m. Food: judging by its small mouth, this species probably feeds on planktonic organisms, but no data available. Reproduction: no data.
Distribution: owing to the uncertainty of the species diagnosis, no distribution of C. maderensis can be given; type locality: off Madeira.
Species 1 in Clofnam area; the status of various nominal species is doubtful and the genus needs to be revised.
Species of this genus in the program:
Caristius maderensis