Javan Pearlside, Maurolicus javanicus Parin & Kobyliansky 1993
Javan Pearlside, Maurolicus javanicus. Source: Barry Hutchins / Western Australian Museum. License: All rights reserved
Summary:
A pearlside with a black dorsal surface, bright silvery sides, silvery light organs outlined in black, and clear fins. The stomach, rear part of the intestine, and inner surface of the gill arches and gill rakers are unpigmented.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Maurolicus javanicus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 27 Jun 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/3942
Javan Pearlside, Maurolicus javanicus Parin & Kobyliansky 1993
More Info
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Distribution |
Off Perth to west of North West Cape, Western Australia, and the Coral Sea off Cape York, Queensland. Elsewhere the species occurs in the Java Sea, Indonesia. Inhabits epipelagic and mesopelagic waters, undertaking diel vertical migrations to feed in shallower waters at night. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin 10-11; Anal fin 22-23; Pectoral fin 16-17; Gill rakers 22-25; Vertebrae 30-31. AC photophores 24-27. Body depth (max) at or behind pectoral-fin base 23-25% SL; head length 28.5-31% SL; eye diameter 9.5-10.5% SL; upper jaw 16.5-17.5% SL. |
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Feeding |
Feeds on zooplankton and small fishes. |
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Fisheries |
Some species of Maurolicus form large schools, and are important to pelagic food chains. They are preyed upon by a range of fishes, squid and cetaceans. |
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Etymology |
The specific name refers to the type locality: south of Java Island. |
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Species Citation |
Maurolicus javanicus Parin & Kobyliansky 199, Transactions P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology 128: 100. Type locality: Area between 0°04' to 10°04'S, 97°55' to 122°43'E (eastern Indian Ocean). |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
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Resources |
Javan Pearlside, Maurolicus javanicus Parin & Kobyliansky 1993
References
Harold, A.S. 1999. Families Gonostomatidae, Sternoptychidae, Phosichthyidae, Astronesthidae, Stomiidae, Chauliodontidae, Melanostomiidae, Idiacanthidae, Malacosteidae. pp. 1896-1917 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068.
Harold, A. 2020. Maurolicus javanicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T137568872A137570764. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T137568872A137570764.en. Accessed on 25 March 2025.
Parin, N.V. & Kobyliansky, S.G. 1993. Review of the genus Maurolicus (Sternoptychidae, Stomiiformes), with re-establishing validity of five species considered junior synonyms of M. muelleri and descriptions of nine new species. Transactions P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology 128: 69-107. [In Russian]
Parin, N.V. & Kobyliansky, S.G. 1996. Diagnoses and distribution of fifteen species recognized in genus Maurolicus Cocco (Sternoptychidae, Stomiiformes) with a key to their identification. Cybium 20(2): 185-195. https://doi.org/10.26028/cybium/1996-202-004
