Home · Howellidae · Pelagic basslet
Pelagic basslet (Howella brodiei) — Howellidae

Pelagic basslet

Howella brodiei
Family: Howellidae

The Pelagic basslet (Howella brodiei) is a saltwater fish of the family Howellidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
7.9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
100.0–1829.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Worldwide in the open ocean, mesopelagic to bathypelagic, with daily vertical migration.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Pelagic basslet?

Get the app

Description

Howella brodiei is a small open-ocean fish (family Howellidae) occurring worldwide in the deep sea. The species reaches only about 8 cm and has a streamlined, silvery-brown body with large eyes. It lives in the open ocean and undertakes a daily vertical migration: by day it stays in midwater at about 300 to 1800 m depth, while at night it rises towards the surface. Its diet consists of small zooplankton. Because of its deep-sea habits the species is little studied. It is harmless to humans and of no fishery value.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pelagic basslet?

The Pelagic basslet has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Small open-ocean fish that stays at 300-1800 m during the day and migrates to the surface at night.

Where does the Pelagic basslet live?

The Pelagic basslet lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water. Worldwide in the open ocean, mesopelagic to bathypelagic, with daily vertical migration.

How big does the Pelagic basslet get?

The Pelagic basslet grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Pelagic basslet dangerous to humans?

No, the Pelagic basslet is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Pelagic basslet edible?

The Pelagic basslet is not usually eaten.

More photos

Pelagic basslet (Howella brodiei) — Howellidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Ken Graham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Pelagic basslet (Howella brodiei) — Howellidae — 3
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — UF
Pelagic basslet (Howella brodiei) — Howellidae — 4
© President and Fellows of Harvard College (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — MCZ
Pelagic basslet (Howella brodiei) — Howellidae — 5
Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Pelagic basslet?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Pelagic basslet is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Pelagic basslet verified
Scientific name
Howella brodiei
Family
Howellidae
Other names
Pelagic basslet; Southern pelagic bass; Southern pelagic cardinalfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.9 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
100.0 verified
Max depth (m)
1829.0 verified
Natural range
Worldwide in the open ocean, mesopelagic to bathypelagic, with daily vertical migration. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Small open-ocean fish that stays at 300-1800 m during the day and migrates to the surface at night. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Howella

Sherborn's pelagic bass (Howella sherborni) — Howellidae
Sherborn's pelagic bass
Howella sherborni
Howellidae

More from the family Howellidae

Sherborn's pelagic bass (Howella sherborni) — Howellidae
Sherborn's pelagic bass
Howella sherborni
Howellidae
no photo
Deepsea bass
Bathysphyraenops simplex
Howellidae
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Pelagic basslet?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Pelagic basslet is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Pelagic basslet? Get the app