Argentine (Argentina sphyraena) fish species and information / pictures of Argentine - Argentina sphyraena

Argentine (Argentina sphyraena) fish species information

Scientific Name
Argentina sphyraena

Common Name
Argentine

Biology
Relatively common on the continental shelf and upper slope, probably schools near the bottom. Depth range from 50-500 m (Ref. 35388) and from 288-700 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). Feeds on bottom-living polychaetes, mollusks and crustaceans, also pelagic invertebrates and fishes. Spawns from winter to spring in the Mediterranean and from March to July off the British coasts. Its eggs and larvae are pelagic (Ref. 4773). They become sexually mature at a length of 12-13cm. With a smell like cucumber (Ref. 35388).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Smelts (Osmeriformes)

Family

Argentines or herring smelts (Argentinidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: northern Norway to Western Sahara including southern Iceland, Faroe Islands, Shetlands and western Mediterranean.

Range

70°N - 25°N, 24°W - 24°E

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

50 m

Depth To - meters

700 m

Zone

bathydemersal

Environment

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 50 - 700 m (Ref. 56504)

Trophic Level

3.62 s.e. 0.52 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

35.0 cm

Common Length

20.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5001 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (36 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=7; K=0.27)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated