Network Slickhead, Bajacalifornia arcylepis Markle & Krefft 1985
Illustration of a Network Slickhead, Bajacalifornia arcylepis. Source: After Sutton et al. (2016) Identification guide to the mesopelagic fishes of the central and south east Atlantic Ocean / FAO Rome. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Summary:
A brown slickhead with darker scale centres, forming a network or reticulate pattern, and a conical knob on the tip of the lower jaw.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Bajacalifornia arcylepis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 27 Jun 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/3772
Network Slickhead, Bajacalifornia arcylepis Markle & Krefft 1985
More Info
|
Distribution |
Northwest edge of the Exmouth Plateau, Western Australia. Elsewhere the species occurs in the Atlantic and western Indian oceans. Adults are benthopelagic, mostly at depths of 820-1425 m; juveniles are found over a wider depth range. |
|
Features |
Dorsal fin 17; Anal fin 13; Pectoral fin 14-15; Pelvic fin 7-9; Gill rakers 4+1+17=22; Pyloric caeca 13-22; Transverse scale rows from first lateral scale to dorsal fin origin 17-19; Vertebrae 27-28, precaudal, 19-20 caudal. Body moderately elongate and slender, head large; tip of chin with a conical knob. Teeth present in a single row in upper and lower jaws; upper jaw extending to rear margin of orbit. Body scales relatively large, moderate, head naked. Dorsal fin origin anterior to anal fin. Pelvic and pectoral fins very small. |
|
Etymology |
The specific name is from the Greek arcy (= net) and lepis (= scale), in reference to the net-like appearance of the dark scale pockets against the lighter brown background. |
|
Species Citation |
Bajacalifornia arcylepis Markle & Krefft 1985, Copeia 1985(2): 348, fig. 4a. Type locality: Atlantic Ocean [27°38´–27°43´N, 52°22´–52°20´W]. |
|
Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
|
Resources |
Network Slickhead, Bajacalifornia arcylepis Markle & Krefft 1985
References
Knudsen, S. 2015. Bajacalifornia arcylepis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T190419A60780365. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T190419A60780365.en. Downloaded on 15 July 2017.
Markle, D.F. & Krefft, G. 1985. A new species and review of Bajacalifornia (Pisces: Alepocephalidae) with comments on the hook jaw of Narcetes stomias. Copeia 1985: 345-356. https://doi.org/10.2307/1444844
Sazonov, Y.I. & Williams, A. 2001. A review of the alepocephalid fishes (Argentiniformes, Alepocephalidae) from the continental slope of Australia: Part I. Journal of Ichthyology 41(suppl. 1): 1-36
Sutton, T.T., Hulley, P.A., Wienerroither, R., Zaera-Perez, D. & Paxton, J.R. 2020. Identification guide to the mesopelagic fishes of the central and south east Atlantic Ocean. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb0365en
