Benthalbella elongata (Norman 1937)
Illustration of Benthalbella elongata (based on ISH 603/76, length 228 mm SL). Source: After Fig. 1, in Gon & Heemstra (1990) Fishes of the Southern Ocean: 134 / Biodiversity Heritage Library. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Summary:
A pearleye with a relatively long snout, and a sparsely pigmented peritoneum.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Benthalbella elongata in Fishes of Australia, accessed 04 Jun 2026, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5211
Benthalbella elongata (Norman 1937)
More Info
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Distribution |
Cascade Plateau, Tasmania, and Macquarie Island. Elsewhere the species is circumglobal in Antarctic and subantarctic waters. A mesopelagic to bathypelagic species that undertakes diel vertical migrations from below 500 metres, to feed at night. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin 9-10; Anal fin 24-28; Pectoral fin 19-23; Pelvic fin 9; Lateral-line scales 61-65; Vertebrae 61-65. Base of adipose fin entirely before a vertical through base of last anal-fin ray. Snout distinctly longer than horizontal eye diameter, length 2.5-3.0 in HL; interorbital width 1.6-2.!% SL; peritoneum sparsely pigmented. |
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Colour |
Peritoneal pigment present in all post-metamorphic specimens, but consisting of scattered small melanophores, not uniformly black or brown. |
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Biology |
A simultaneous hermaphrodite with individuals having functional male and female tissue. |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin elongata (= prolonged) in reference to the longer body compared with that of Scopelarchus guentheri. |
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Species Citation |
Scopelarchus elongatus Norman 1937, B.A. N. Z. Antarctic research expedition 1929-1931 1(2): 86. Type locality: 45°53'S, 84°33'E, northeast of Kerguelen Island, southern Indian Ocean, 2000 metres wire out. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
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Resources |
Benthalbella elongata (Norman 1937)
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
Johnson, R.K. 1974. A revision of the alepisauroid family Scopelarchidae (Pisces : Myctophiformes). Fieldiana Zoology 66: 1-249 figs 1-60 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/78659
Johnson, R.K. 1982. Fishes of the families Evermannellidae and Scopelarchidae: systematics, morphology, interrelationships and zoogeography. Fieldiana Zoology ns 12: 1-252 figs 1-74 https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.5137
Johnson, R.K. 1984. Scopelarchidae. pp. 484-488 in Whitehead, P.J.P., Bauchot, M.-L., Hureau, J.-C., Nielsen, J. & Tortonese, E. (eds). Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Paris : UNESCO Vol. 1 510 pp. figs.
Marshall, N.B. 1950. Studies of alepisauroid fishes. Discovery Reports 27: 303-336, Pl. 19. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/36627 (as Neoscopelarchoides elongatus)
Moore, J. & Polanco Fernandez, A. 2019. Benthalbella elongata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T123335326A123335742. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T123335326A123335742.en. Accessed on 18 August 2025.
Norman, J.R. 1937. Fishes. Report of the British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition 1(2): 49-88 figs 1-11
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
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.
