Longfin smooth-head explained

The longfin smooth-head (Conocara macropterum) is a species of fish in the family Alepocephalidae.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Description

The longfin smooth-head is pale brown to black in colour; its name derives from its anal fin, which has a long base and 35–39 finrays. Its maximum length is 34cm (13inches). They grow rapidly from infancy; few juveniles of intermediate size are found.^[4]

Habitat

The longfin smooth-head lives in the temperate and tropical Atlantic Ocean, and in the Gulf of Mexico;^{[5] [6] [7]} it is bathypelagic, living at depths of, being most common at .

Behaviour

The longfin smooth-head lays large eggs, up to in diameter, and are believed to be buried in redds, similar to how the Atlantic salmon buries its eggs.^{[8] [9]} A detritivore, the longfin smooth-head is recorded to ingest sediment from the seafloor, taking up with it microfauna such as foraminiferans.^{[10] [11]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Richards, William J.. Early Stages of Atlantic Fishes: An Identification Guide for the Western Central North Atlantic, Two Volume Set. August 8, 2005. CRC Press. 9780203500217. Google Books.
2. Web site: Taxonomy browser (Conocara macropterum). www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
3. Web site: Conocara macropterum NBN Atlas. species.nbnatlas.org.
4. Book: Deep-Sea Demersal Fish and Fisheries. N. R.. Merrett. R. L.. Haedrich. October 31, 1997. Springer Science & Business Media. 9780412394102. Google Books.
5. Book: Gulf of Mexico Origin, Waters, and Biota: Volume I, Biodiversity. Darryl L.. Felder. David K.. Camp. June 29, 2009. Texas A&M University Press. 9781603440943. Google Books.
6. Book: Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Atlantic. October 10, 2002. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 9789251048269. Google Books.
7. 2410772. Conocara macropterum.
8. Book: Priede, I. G.. Deep-Sea Fishes: Biology, Diversity, Ecology and Fisheries. August 10, 2017. Cambridge University Press. 9781107083820. Google Books.
9. Web site: Marine Species Identification Portal : Longfin smooth-head - Conocara macroptera. species-identification.org.
10. Book: Deep-Sea Fishes. October 1, 1997. Academic Press. 9780080585406. Google Books.
11. Book: Encyclopedia of Fish Physiology: From Genome to Environment. June 1, 2011. Academic Press. 9780080923239. Google Books.