Longfin Greeneye, Lagiacrusichthys macropinna (Bussing & Bussing 1966)
Illustration of the holotype of the Longfin Greeneye, Lagiacrusichthys macropinna, LACM 10118 (as Bentalbella macropinna). Source: Fig. 1, in Bussing & Bussing 1996 Bull. Southern Calif. Acad. Sci. 65(1): 53 / Biodiversity Heritage Library. License: CC by Attribution
Summary:
A transparent to light brown pearleye, with a silvery sheen on the body, a dark lower half of the body (from the black peritoneum), a very long anal fin, and a small dorsal fin about the same size as the adipose fin, and large pelvic fins. The species has a ‘lens pad’ in the lateral wall of the tubular eye that directs ventro-lateral illumination onto an accessory retina.
The Longfin Greeneye was previously known as Benthalbella macropinna.
The Longfin Greeneye was previously known as Benthalbella macropinna.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Lagiacrusichthys macropinna in Fishes of Australia, accessed 06 Jun 2026, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5210
Longfin Greeneye, Lagiacrusichthys macropinna (Bussing & Bussing 1966)
More Info
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Distribution |
Occurs in Australia's subantarctic and Antarctic waters. The species is meso-bathypelagic in the Southern Ocean, in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current from about 35°S to Antarctica. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin 5-6; Anal fin 35-39; Pectoral fin 25-27; Pelvic fin 9; Caudal fin 19; Lateral-line scales 62-65; Vertebrae 13-14 + 46-50 = 60-63. Snout length 3.5-4.5 in HL, equal to or shorter than horizontal eye diameter, Eye lens directed upward, ventral half of eye black with a white pearl-colored organ, length of organ one half to two-thirds of lens diameter, upper margin of pearl-colored organ bordered by a dense black band or cap of enlarged melanophores. Dorsal-fin rays weak, inconspicuous, originating behind origin of pelvic fins. Anal-fin base and rays very long, originating at mid-body. Pectoral fin short, much shorter than pelvic fin, rays just reaching pelvic-fin origin; upper edge of pectoral base level with lower margin of orbit. Pelvic-fin rays strong, reaching three-fourths distance to anus, fin base wide, originating midway between lateral line and ventral body margin. Posterior end of adipose-fin base above rear fourth or fifth anal ray; origin of adipose fin indistinct, continuous with a fatty ridge extending nearly to point above anus. A similar fatty ridge on ventral midline between anus and ventral fin bases. Caudal fin forked, principal rays preceded by 14-15 dorsal and ventral procurrent rays. |
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Colour |
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Biology |
A simultaneous hermaphrodite - individuals have functional male and female reproductive tissue. |
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Similar Species |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Greek makros (= great, large) and the Latin pinna (= feather, fin), presumably in reference to the long-based anal fin: "Anal fin base and rays very long". |
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Species Citation |
Benthalbella macropinna Bussing & Bussing, 1966, Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 65(1): 53, Fig. 1. Type locality: Scotia Sea, 56°17'S, 58°09'W, Eltanin station 359, depth 0-840 m over 3960-3990 m. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
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Resources |
Longfin Greeneye, Lagiacrusichthys macropinna (Bussing & Bussing 1966)
References
Bussing, W.A. & Bussing, M.I. 1966. Antarctic Scopelarchidae: a new fish of the genus Benthalbella and the distribution of B. elongata (Norman). Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 65(1): 53-64. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/42342
Davis, M.P. 2015. Evolutionary relationships of the deep-sea pearleyes (Aulopiformes: Scopelarchidae) and a new genus of pearleye from Antarctic waters. Copeia 2015(1): 64-71. (as Lagiacrusichthys macropinnis)
Johnson, R.K. 1974. A revision of the alepisauroid family Scopelarchidae (Pisces : Myctophiformes). Fieldiana Zoology 66: 1-249 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/78659 (as Benthalbella macropinna)
Johnson, R.K. 1982. Fishes of the families Evermannellidae and Scopelarchidae: systematics, morphology, interrelationships and zoogeography. Fieldiana Zoology ns 12: 1-252 https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.5137 (as Benthalbella macropinna)
Johnson, R.K. 1986. Family No. 77: Scopelarchidae. pp. 265-267 in Smith, M.M. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Smith's Sea Fishes. Johannesburg : Macmillan South Africa xx + 1047 pp. 144 pls. (as Benthalbella macropinna)
Moore, J. & Polanco Fernandez, A. 2019. Lagiacrusichthys macropinna. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T123335481A123335752. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T123335481A123335752.en. Accessed on 05 August 2025.
Post, A. 1990. Scopelarchidae. pp. 134-135 in Gon, O. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Fishes of the Southern Ocean. Grahamstown : J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology 462 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.141868 (as Benthalbella macropinna)
Stewart, A.L. 2015. Family Scopelarchidae. pp. 566-574 in Roberts, C.D., Stewart, A.L. & Struthers, C.D. The Fishes of New Zealand. Wellington : Te Papa Press Vol. 2 pp. 1-576. (as Benthalbella macropinna)
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. FAO, Rome. 327 pp.
