Blackfin waryfish explained

The blackfin waryfish (Scopelosaurus lepidus) is a species of fish in the family Notosudidae (waryfish).^{[1] [2]}

Description

The blackfin waryfish is pinkish black in colour, with the pectoral fins having a large black patch covering their basal two-thirds and a white distal stripe.^{[3] [4]} It has a maximum length of and 59 or 60 vertebrae.^[5]

Habitat

The blackfin waryfish lives in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is benthopelagic and oceanodromous, living at depths of .^[6]

Behaviour

The young feeds on copepods while the adults feed on euphausiids, hyperiids and mesopelagic fish.^[7] Spawning occurs in midwater far offshore, including in the Sargasso Sea.^[8] It is eaten by Sebastes (ocean perch).^[5]

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Fishes of the Family Notosudidae. Erik. Bertelsen. Gerhard. Krefft. Norman Bertram. Marshall. July 11, 1976. Scandinavian Science Press. Google Books.
2. Web site: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada: Journal de L'Office Des Recherches Sur Les Pêcheries Du Canada. Fisheries Research Board of. Canada. July 11, 1967. Fisheries Research Board of Canada.. Google Books.
3. Book: McEachran, John. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico, Vol. 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. July 11, 2010. University of Texas Press. 9780292793231. Google Books.
4. Web site: Scopelosaurus lepidus (Blackfin waryfish). www.descna.com.
5. Book: Orders Iniomi and Lyomeri: Part 5. William W.. Anderson. Frederick H.. Berry. James E.. Böhlke. Rolf L.. Bolin. Jack W.. Gehringer. Robert H. Gibbs. Jr. William A.. Gosline. N. B.. Marshall. Giles W.. Mead. Robert R.. Rofen. Norman J.. Wilimovsky. October 23, 2018. Yale University Press. 9781933789156. Google Books.
6. Web site: The Fishes of the Family Notosudidae. Erik. Bertelsen. Gerhard. Krefft. Norman Bertram. Marshall. July 11, 1976. Scandinavian Science Press. Google Books.
7. Web site: Marine Species Identification Portal : Scopelosaurus lepidus. species-identification.org.
8. Web site: Scopelosaurus lepidus, Blackfin waryfish. www.fishbase.se.