Dibranchus atlanticus
Diagnosis: Body depressed; ventral surface markedly flattened, completely covered with scales. Disc length 1.8-2.5 times in SL, disc width 1.3-1.8 times in SL; head length 1.7-2.0 times in SL. Pectoral fin lobe seperated from tail. A strong multifid subopercular spine on either side. Villiform teeth present on jaws and tongue, absent on vomer and palatine. Lateral line organs on ventral ssurface of tail. Main lateral pores 11-12, subopercular series 10-11mandibular series 9. Colour: uniform reddish gray above, slightly lighter below. Size: to 145 mm SL.
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Dibranchus atlanticus Peters, 1876 (updated 2009-06-25)
Habitat: benthic at depths between 300 and 1100 m, rarely shoaler than 100 m. Juveniles are probably mesopelagic.
Distribution: Eastern North Atlantic, two records from North-Western Ireland (56° N 9°20' W) (55°30' N 9° W) (Du Buit and Quero, 1992; Quero et al, 1993