Baird RC. 1971. The Systematics, Distribution, and Zoogeography of the Marine Hatchetfishes (family Sternoptychidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zooology 142(1):1–128.

View data on Catalog of Fishes here.

18°29'45"N, 65°25'50"W to 18°35'30"N, 65°23'54"W, Caribbean Sea, depth 200-400 fathoms.

Holotype: USNM 102979

Baird RC. 1971. The Systematics, Distribution, and Zoogeography of the Marine Hatchetfishes (family Sternoptychidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zooology 142(1):1–128.

Dorsal-fin rays 14–16 (rarely 17); anal-fin rays (rarely 15) 16–17 (rarely 18); pectoral-fin rays (rarely 12) 13–14 (rarely 15); gill rakers 20–23 (rarely 24); vertebrae 32–33. Large to giant species, often exceeds 70 mm SL; body relatively broad, tapering evenly to narrow but short caudal peduncle, its greatest depth greater than length of subcaudal photophores; posttemporal and dorsal spines short (less than one-fourth eye diameter); preopercle spine very short, triangulate; abdominal keel scales extend slightly below ventral body margin; first supra-anal photophore markedly lower than second; first supra-abdominal photophore raised well above other two, second and third supra-abdominals usually about same height; jaws medium to large; teeth minute; gill rakers medium to long, spinose on internal surface; in preservative, pigment dark dorsally; dark pigment bar extends toward but never reaches midline; lateral border of dark dorsal pigment straight from dorsal spine to caudal peduncle; dark pigment spots lateral midline, pigment striations present on trunk.

Western Central Atlantic: Caribbean Sea in the vicinity of the continental slope of South America, and off Puerto Rico. Also in the Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 27768).

Caribbean Sea in the vicinity of the continental slope of South America, and off Puerto Rico. Also in the Gulf of Mexico to Grand Bank.

Gulf of Maine, Gulf of St. Lawrence, North West Atlantic

Restricted to the western North Atlantic; abundant in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico from the coast of Venezuela to the straits of Florida; off the outer islands of the West lndies and less abundantly along the east Coast of North America; a single capture bas been reported as far north as the Gulf of Maine.

Western Atlantic: Caribbean Sea and off Greater Antilles.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 16; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 16 - 17

Maximum size: 81.3 mm SL

8.1 cm SL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 26382))

Exceed 70 mm SL.

Three supraanal photophores, very short temporal spine (Ref. 37473).

Post-temporal spine simple, bearing no basal spines; lateral edge of post-temporal-supracleithrum smooth; keel scales with smooth ventral surfaces; supraanal photophores separate, usually raised well above anal group. Post-temporal spine short, its length less than one-fourth the diameter of orbit; anal photophore number 7 to 9; body robust, less than 1.9 times body depth; first supra-anal photophore markedly lower than second. Teeth absent on posterior vomerine shaft; second supra-anal photophore even with or raised above third; supra-abdominal photophores nonsymmetrical, first photophore raised well above other two. Gill rakers to 24; dorsal rays 14 to 16; lower margin of dark dorsal pigment straight from dorsal spine to caudal peduncle. Anal pterygiophore margin essentially straight; anal photophore number 9 (rarely 10); greater than 3.7 times body depth at end of dorsal

Paratype for Polyipnus asteroides Schultz
Catalog Number: USNM 86131
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Year Collected: 1917
Locality: Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic
Vessel: Grampus

Type for Polyipnus asteroides Schultz
Catalog Number: USNM 102979
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Preparation: Illustration
Year Collected: 1933
Locality: Puerto Rico, Greater Antilles, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic
Depth (m): 366 to 732
Vessel: Caroline

Paratype for Polyipnus asteroides Schultz
Catalog Number: USNM 102978
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Year Collected: 1933
Locality: Puerto Rico, Greater Antilles, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic
Depth (m): 457 to 585
Vessel: Caroline

bathypelagic; marine; depth range 366 - 732 m (Ref. 26382)

nektonic

Found to depths of 500 m.

Depth range based on 103 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 77 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 106 - 658
  Temperature range (°C): 5.258 - 18.453
  Nitrate (umol/L): 3.423 - 30.828
  Salinity (PPS): 33.637 - 36.286
  Oxygen (ml/l): 2.686 - 5.674
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.534 - 2.179
  Silicate (umol/l): 4.334 - 23.354

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 106 - 658

Temperature range (°C): 5.258 - 18.453

Nitrate (umol/L): 3.423 - 30.828

Salinity (PPS): 33.637 - 36.286

Oxygen (ml/l): 2.686 - 5.674

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.534 - 2.179

Silicate (umol/l): 4.334 - 23.354
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 5
Species With Barcodes: 1

Not Evaluated