Silver scabbardfish (Lepidopus caudatus)

Image source: Xavier Rufray | inaturalist.org
General data
- Main name: Silver scabbardfish
- Climates: Subtropical
- Habitat: Saltwater
- Native: Africa, Europe, South America, Australia & Oceania
- Distribution: Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian ocean
Classification
- Genus: Lepidopus - Lepidopus
- Family: Trichiuridae - Trichiuridae
- Order: Scombriformes - Mackerels
- Class: Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes
- Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
Description
Eastern Atlantic: France and western Mediterranean to Senegal, including Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and offshore seamounts; Cape Fria, Namibia to Agulhas Bank, South Africa including northern Walvis Ridge. Southern Indian Ocean: seamounts 30 to 35°S. Southwest Pacific: Australia (New South Wales to southern West Australia) and New Zealand. Southeast Pacific: Peru. . Max length : 210 cm TL; max. published weight: 8 kg Dorsal soft rays (total): 98-110; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 59 - 66; Vertebrae: 105 - 114. Second anal-fin spine plate-like. Pyloric caeca 20 - 29. Body uniformly silvery. Pelvic fin very small. Occur on continental shelf, along its edge and upper slope down to 400 m (600 m in Australia), usually over sandy and muddy bottoms from 100 to 250 m (over 300 m in Australia). Depth range from 333-620 m in the eastern Ionian Sea. Migrate into midwater at night. Form schools; occasionally found inshore in upwelling of deep water when it appears at surface. Feed on crustaceans, small squid and fish. Eggs and larvae are pelagic.