Biology

Epipelagic to mesopelagic, at surface at night (Ref. 31442). Adults feed on small crustaceans (Ref. 11712). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 31442). Lipid content is 4.3 % in fresh body weight, while wax ester is present in trace amounts (Ref. 9197). Preyed upon by fishes, cephalopods, birds and marine mammals. Easily attracted to a light suspended above the water at night and many are captured in dipnets (Ref. 4525).