Scientific Name
Alepocephalus rostratus

Common Name
Risso's smooth-head

Biology
Found over soft bottoms (Ref. 4736). Feeds on pelagic crustaceans like euphausiids, decapods and mysids (Ref. 27637).

Classification

Classified By

Risso, 1820

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Smelts (Osmeriformes)

Family

Slickheads (Alepocephalidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: northeast Atlantic and western Mediterranean to Cape Verde (Ref. 4736); Morocco to Cameroon, then from Angola to Namibia (Ref. 4460).

Range

64°N - 17°S, 166°E - 22°E

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

300 m

Depth To - meters

2250 m

Zone

bathydemersal

Environment

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 300 - 2250 m (Ref. 28822)

Trophic Level

3.48 s.e. 0.49 Based on diet studies.

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

50.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: of no interest

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (70 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated