Ariomma melanum (Ginsburg, 1954)
Brown driftfish
Ariomma melanum
photo by JAMARC

 Family:  Ariommatidae (Ariommatids)
 Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  bathydemersal; depth range 180 - 600 m
 Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Mauritania to Angola; possibly straying to southern Africa (Ref. 4412). Western Atlantic: New York and northern Gulf of Mexico in USA to Panama (Ref. 7251), [extending to the northern coast of South America according to Ref. 13628], up to Uruguay (Ref. 47377). Not occurring in the West Indies (Ref. 7251).
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-17; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 13-16. Live specimens dark with a silver cast.
 Biology:  Inhabits deep waters, usually on soft bottoms (Ref. 2683). Feeds mainly on small crustaceans (Ref. 3547). Larvae and young are epipelagic, adults demersal or benthopelagic (Ref. 47377).
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Froese, Rainer - 01.05.91
 Modified by: Heskamp, Monika - 18.06.03
 Checked by: Binohlan, Crispina B. - 20.08.94

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