Author: Vaillant, 1888
Bathypterois dubius Vaillant, 1888
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Bathypterois dubius Vaillant, 1888 (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: dorsal finrays 14-16; anal finrays 8-10; pelvic finrays 8, two outermost rays thickened and elongated (19-55% SL); pectoral finrays 11-13 visible externally, two uppermost rays pronounced (70-98% SL), lowermost caudal ray(s) 15-29% SL. Adipose fin present. Subcaudal notch present. Lateral line scales 61-65. Underside of lower jaw unscaled. Colour: head and body black; scale pockets outlined in white; fins dusky to black. Size: 21 cm (max.), typically 12-18 cm.
Habitat: benthic on continental slope and rise at 750-1,950 m. Behaviour: probably forms occasional aggregates. Food: benthopelagic plankton (Marshall and Merrett, 1977). Reproduction: synchronously hermaphroditic (Mead, 1966c).
Distribution: restricted to the Atlantic above 15° N; primarily the eastern North Atlantic; one record from the Mediterranean, one from the western North Atlantic.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). Vaillant, 1888, pl. 15.