Benthodesmus tenuis (Günther, 1877)
Slender frostfish
Benthodesmus tenuis
photo by JAMARC

 Family:  Trichiuridae (Cutlassfishes), subfamily: Aphanopodinae
 Max. size:  230 cm SL (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  benthopelagic; depth range 200 - 850 m
 Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951), off Cape Hatteras, Gulf of Mexico, Suriname and southern Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Gulf of Guinea to Angola. Western Indian Ocean: off Natal, South Africa (Ref. 11228). Western Pacific: Emperor Seamounts, Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Viet Nam, and the Sulu Sea. Indian Ocean: south of Java, Indonesia. Reported from British Columbia, Canada (Ref. 11980).
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 38-42; Dorsal soft rays (total): 78-89; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 69-76; Vertebrae: 122-132. Body silvery, jaws and opercle blackish. The inside of the mouth and gill cavities black.
 Biology:  Mainly found over the continental slope (Ref. 27121). Juveniles mesopelagic (Ref. 6181, 58302).
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Agustin, Liza Q. - 09.11.93
 Modified by: Ortañez, Auda Kareen - 24.01.08
 Checked by: Agustin, Liza Q. - 24.02.94

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