Silver scabbardfish
(Lepidopus caudatus)
Image source: Xavier Rufray | inaturalist.org
General data
Eastern Atlantic: France and western Mediterranean to Senegal, including Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and offshore seamounts; Cape Fria, Namibia to Agulhas Bank, South Africa including northern Walvis Ridge.
Southern Indian Ocean: seamounts 30 to 35°S.
Southwest Pacific: Australia (New South Wales to southern West Australia) and New Zealand.
Southeast Pacific: Peru. .
Max length : 210 cm TL; max. published weight: 8 kg
Dorsal soft rays (total): 98-110; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 59 - 66; Vertebrae: 105 - 114. Second anal-fin spine plate-like. Pyloric caeca 20 - 29.
Body uniformly silvery. Pelvic fin very small.
Occur on continental shelf, along its edge and upper slope down to 400 m (600 m in Australia), usually over sandy and muddy bottoms from 100 to 250 m (over 300 m in Australia). Depth range from 333-620 m in the eastern Ionian Sea. Migrate into midwater at night. Form schools; occasionally found inshore in upwelling of deep water when it appears at surface. Feed on crustaceans, small squid and fish. Eggs and larvae are pelagic.
