Halfnaked Hatchetfish, Argyropelecus hemigymnus Cocco 1829

Other Names: Half-naked Hatchetfish, Half-naked Hatchet-fish

Halfnaked Hatchetfish, Argyropelecus hemigymnus. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO. License: CC BY Attribution-Noncommercial

Summary:

Adult Halfnaked Hatchetfish undertake daily vertical migrations, rising in the water column at dusk to feed on copepods and small fishes in shallower mesopelagic and epipelagic waters.

Cite this page as:

Dianne J. Bray, Argyropelecus hemigymnus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Feb 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/3940

Halfnaked Hatchetfish, Argyropelecus hemigymnus Cocco 1829

More Info

Distribution	A bathypelagic species, found at depths of up to 2,400 m. Usually occurs at 200-700 m during the day - concentrating at 350-550 m. At night, found at 100-650 m, preferring 150-380 m. Adults make daily vertical migrations to feed in shallower waters at night.
Feeding	Adults undertake daily vertical migrations in the water column, rising at dusk to feed on copepods and small fishes in shallower waters.
Biology	The photophores of Argyropelecus are thought to luminesce continuously (Clarke, 1963), with the intensity of the light produced being rapidly adjusted and modulated to match that of the background twilight. Females spawn planktonic eggs multiple times during a season.
Author	Dianne J. Bray

Halfnaked Hatchetfish, Argyropelecus hemigymnus Cocco 1829

References

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Baguet, F. & Marechal, G. (1978). The stimulation of isolated photophores (Argyropelecus) by epinephrine and norepinephrine. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 60C: 137-143.

Baguet, F., Christophe, B. & Marechal, G. (1980). Luminescence of Argyropelecus photophores electrically stimulated. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 67A: 375-381.

Clarke, W.D. (1963). Function of bioluminescence in mesopelagic organisms. Nature 198: 1244-1246.

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Mallefet, J. & Baguet, F. (1985). Effects of adrenaline on the oxygen consumption and luminescence of the photophores of the mesopelagic fish Argyropelecus hemigymnus. J. Exp. Biol. 118: 341-349. PDF

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