Beryx mollis Abe 1959

Other Names: Balloon Alfonsin

Summary:

A pinkish red alfonsino, overlain with silvery tones on the sides, and darker caudal-fin lobes. This species is overall paler in colour than other alfonsino species.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2025, Beryx mollis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 04 Jun 2026, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5781

Beryx mollis Abe 1959

More Info

Distribution	Southeast of Montague Island, New South Wales, to east of Wilsons Promontory, Victoria. Elsewhere the species is widespread in the Indo-west Pacific: off Somalia, Western Indian Ocean, north to Japan and east to the Nazca Ridge, southeastern Pacific.
Features	Dorsal fin IV, 12-14; Anal fin IV-V, 24-32; Pectoral fin 15-19; Pelvic fin I, 9-11; Gill rakers 6-7 + 16-20; Lateral-line scales 64-77; Pyloric caecae 12-20. Body depth 35-45%SL. Anal-fin origin below dorsal-fin insertion; pelvic-fin origin slightly before a vertical at pectoral-fin insertions, pelvic fins of adults about as long as pectoral fins. Lateral line continuous. Scales with rows of triangular spines; no disc-shaped pad on inner surfaces; scales enlarged on dorsal- and anal-fin bases; fulcral scale in pelvic-fin axil well-developed; scales on cheek in 6 or 7 rows; 1 pair of spines on head lateral to anterior nostrils. Pyloric caeca 12–20.
Size
Feeding	Feeds on mesopelagic crustaceans, squids and fishes.
Biology
Remarks	Until the early 1990s, this species was considered to be a synonym of Beryx splendens.
Similar Species	The similar Alfonsino, Beryx splendens, differs in having 13-15 dorsal-fin rays (vs. 12-13 in B. mollis), more than 27 pyloric caecae (vs. 15-20 in B. mollis), and a slit-like posterior nostril (vs. an oval nostril in B. mollis).
Etymology	The specific name is from the Latin mollis (= soft, tender), in reference to this species having “softer flesh” compared with that of the other Beryx species.
Species Citation	Beryx mollis Abe 1959, Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 7(5-6): : 157, pls. 4-6. Type locality: Sagami Bay off Odawara City, Japan.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2025
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Beryx mollis Abe 1959

References

Abe, T. 1959. New, rare or uncommon fishes from Japanese waters. VII. Description of a new species of Beryx. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 7: 157–163, pls. 4–6. https:// doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.7.157

Akimoto, S., Itoi, S., Sezaki, K., Borsa, P. & Watabe, S. 2006. Identification of alfonsino, Beryx mollis and B. splendens collected in Japan, based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, and their comparison with those collected in New Caledonia. Fisheries Science 72: 202-207. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1444-2906.2006.01136.x

Akimoto, S, Kinoshita S, Sezaki K, Mitani, I. & Watabe, S. 2002. Identification of alfonsino and related fish species belonging to the genus Beryx with mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and its application on their pelagic eggs. Fisheries Science 68: 1242–1249. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.14 44-2906.2002.00561.x

Kimura, K. 2023. First southeastern Pacific record of Balloon Alfonsin, Beryx mollis Abe, 1959 (Beryciformes, Berycidae), with notes on geographical meristic variations. Check List 19(6): 877-882. https://doi.org/10.15560/19.6.877

Konishi, Y. 1999. Developmental and comparative morphology of beryciform larvae (Teleostei: Acanthomorpha), with comments on trachichthyoid relationships. Bulletin of the Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute 77: 23-92.

Moore, J. 2020. Beryx mollis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T123356265A123356627. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T123356265A123356627.en. Accessed on 16 September 2025.

Yoshino, T., Kon, T. & Miura, A. 1999. Morphological differences between Beryx splendens Lowe and B. mollis Abe (Teleostei: Beryciformes: Berycidae). Bulletin of the Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus 67: 77–86. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12000/15267

Yoshino, T. & Kotlyar, A.N. 2001. World distribution of the Balloon Alfonsin, Beryx mollis (Pisces: Beryciformes: Berycidae). Bulletin Faculty of Science University of the Ryukyus 72: 119-124. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12000/15192