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Silver deepsea herring (Bathyclupea argentea) — Bathyclupeidae

Silver deepsea herring

Bathyclupea argentea

The Silver deepsea herring (Bathyclupea argentea) is a fish of the family Bathyclupeidae that grows up to 29 cm.

Length
29 cm
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Nocturnal
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Worldwide (tropical/subtropical)
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The silver deepsea herring is a deep-sea fish (Bathyclupeidae) of the continental slope in tropical and subtropical oceans. The species grows to about 29 cm and has a deep, strongly compressed, silvery body with large eyes and an upturned mouth. As a twilight-zone dweller it hovers just above the bottom of the deep slope and hunts small zooplankton and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Silver deepsea herring?

The Silver deepsea herring is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Large eyes and an upturned mouth; twilight-zone hoverer

Where does the Silver deepsea herring live?

The Silver deepsea herring is mostly found around open water. Worldwide (tropical/subtropical)

How big does the Silver deepsea herring get?

The Silver deepsea herring grows to a maximum of about 29 cm. On average the species is around 17 cm.

Is the Silver deepsea herring dangerous to humans?

No, the Silver deepsea herring 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 Silver deepsea herring edible?

The Silver deepsea herring is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

English name
Silver deepsea herring sourced
Scientific name
Bathyclupea argentea
Family
Bathyclupeidae
Other names
West Atlantic (silver) deepsea herring

Appearance

Size class
Medium
Max length (cm)
29.0 verified
Average length (cm)
17.4 sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Worldwide (tropical/subtropical) sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton and small fishes inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Deep-water hoverer of the continental slope; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Large eyes and an upturned mouth; twilight-zone hoverer 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 verified
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
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