Author: Baird, 1971
Sternoptyx pseudobscura Baird, 1971
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Sternoptyx pseudobscura Baird, 1971 (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: body laterally compressed, deep; eye directed laterally; mouth subvertical; gillrakers on first arch 7-8 (9). Dorsal finrays 9-12 followed by a dorsal adipose fin; dorsal blade of a single spine with anterior serrated projection; pectoral finrays 9-11; anal finrays 13-15 anterior anal pterygiophore elongate bearing external spine and supporting triangular membrane above anal fin; posterior anal pterygiophore long and extending markedly posterior to AC1; marked horizontal extension of ventral body margin posterior to AC1; post-temporal spines poorly developed, post-abdominal spines (iliac) well developed; abdominal keel well defined. Vertebrae (28) 29-30 (31). Photophores: ORB 1, unpigmented, ventral to eye which has ventral aphakic gap; BR (3); OP 3; IP (5); PV (10); VAV (3) (pre-anal); AC (3) + (4) (anal + sub-caudal); OA (3) + 1 (supra-pectoral + supra-anal); supra-anal photophore at or near trunk midline (Atlantic populations), well separated from AC1 at all developmental stages. AC1 small, shorter than least peduncle depth, less than 10% SL. Colour: back dark, flanks silvery; dark pigment on innermost margins of caudal finrays in adults. Size: to 55 mm SL.
Habitat: oceanic, deep mesopelagic-shallow bathypelagic at 800-1,500 m; non-vertical migrant Food: small crustaceans (copepods, ostracods, euphausiids, amphipods, decapods. etc.) and other taxa. Reproduction: dioecious; adult complement of photophores acquired at 16-18 mm SL.
Distribution: common, subtropical - tropical; in Atlantic 40° N 40° S; northern record 42° N, 17° W; absent in Mediterranean.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.