Scientific Name
Microstoma microstoma

Common Name
Slender argentine

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 7 - 9; Vertebrae: 44 - 45. Body silvery, darker near tail (Ref. 3978). Swim bladder faintly colored. Adults mostly silver (Ref. 37473).

Classification

Classified By

Risso, 1810

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Smelts (Osmeriformes)

Family

Pencil smelts (Microstomatidae)

Distribution

Region

Probably worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Probably worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. Eastern Atlantic: southern Ireland, scattered records in western Mediterranean, also Madeira Islands. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 27768). Western Pacific: Australia (Ref. 7300) and New Zealand (Ref. 5755).

Range

55°N - 49°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

bathyalpelagic

Environment

Marine; bathypelagic

Trophic Level

3.4 s.e. 0.45 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

21.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 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

Low vulnerability (11 of 100)

Resilience

Unknown

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated