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Sherborn's pelagic bass (Howella sherborni) — Howellidae

Sherborn's pelagic bass

Howella sherborni
Family: Howellidae

The Sherborn's pelagic bass (Howella sherborni) is a saltwater fish of the family Howellidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
26.0–950.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Open ocean worldwide; meso- to bathypelagic.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

Howella sherborni is a small, bass-like fish of the family Howellidae living in the open ocean. The species has a stocky, silvery body with large eyes and reaches only about 8 cm. It inhabits the meso- to bathypelagic zone of the open sea, far from the coast, and feeds on pelagic crustaceans. Owing to its life in the deep, open water column the species is little studied and rarely observed. It has no commercial or fishery value. Species of the genus Howella are widely distributed in the world's oceans, but usually at low densities.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Sherborn's pelagic bass?

The Sherborn's pelagic bass has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Large eyes adapted to the deep, dark open sea; little studied.

Where does the Sherborn's pelagic bass live?

The Sherborn's pelagic bass lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water. Open ocean worldwide; meso- to bathypelagic.

How big does the Sherborn's pelagic bass get?

The Sherborn's pelagic bass grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Sherborn's pelagic bass dangerous to humans?

No, the Sherborn's pelagic bass is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Sherborn's pelagic bass edible?

The Sherborn's pelagic bass is not usually eaten.

More photos

Sherborn's pelagic bass (Howella sherborni) — Howellidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Eva Paulus, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Sherborn's pelagic bass (Howella sherborni) — Howellidae — 3
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Sherborn's pelagic bass (Howella sherborni) — Howellidae — 4
Naturalis Biodiversity Center (CC0 1.0) via GBIF
Sherborn's pelagic bass (Howella sherborni) — Howellidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Gonzalo Mucientes Sandoval, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Sherborn's pelagic bass verified
Scientific name
Howella sherborni
Family
Howellidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.0 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 spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
26.0 verified
Max depth (m)
950.0 verified
Natural range
Open ocean worldwide; meso- to bathypelagic. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Pelagic crustaceans (zooplankton) sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary 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
Large eyes adapted to the deep, dark open sea; little studied. 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
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Howella

More from the family Howellidae

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