Author: (Harwood, 1827)
Saccopharynx ampullaceus (Harwood, 1827)
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Saccopharynx ampullaceus (Harwood, 1827) (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: snout to origin of dorsal fin 15.5-20.0% TL, of anal fin 20.0-24.0% TL, and of dorsolateral white lines 1.9-3.4% TL. Pectoral finrays 28-41. Dorsolateral filaments 8-20 on trunk in specimens >500 mm TL; totally about 35-90 dorsolateral filaments on body in specimens >800 mm TL; longest filaments (usually a pair) on tail at 60-70% TL behind snout. Caudal organ slender with none or few minute filaments and with anterior series of isolated spots of photogenic tissue. Colour: black. Size: to 161 cm TL.
Habitat: bathypelagic; adult specimens most abundant at 1,000- 3,000 m. Food: fish. Reproduction: oviparous; epipelagic leptocephalus larva; reduction of jaws and complete loss of teeth in sexually mature specimens of both sexes. Mature males with greatly enlarged olfactory organs.
Distribution: North Atlantic from about 10° to 66° N; most records between 30° and 50° N.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. As the preceeding species.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.