Author: (Risso, 1810)
Microstoma microstoma (Risso, 1810)
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Microstoma microstoma (Risso, 1810) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: body elongate, its depth at least 8 times in its length; eye large, more than twice length of snout; mouth small. Dorsal fin well behind midpoint of body, with 9-12 finrays; no adipose dorsal fin; pectoral fins high up on flank, just below lateral line; pelvic fins slightly before dorsal fin origin; anal fin short, a little behind dorsal fin base. Lateral line scales about 50, larger than others, more adherent and extending on to caudal fin. Colour: generally silvery in life. Size: to about 20 cm.
Habitat: mesopelagic, generally solitary. Food: probably zooplankton. Reproduction: spawning throughout year in Mediterranean, apparently more in winter.
Distribution: western half of Mediterranean, also a record to the southwest of Ireland. Elsewhere, probably worldwide in tropical seas, but also in some temperate waters.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. Schmidt, 1918: 22, fig. 15-17 | Sanzo, 1931: 32, pl. 3 (fig. 1-8).
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.