Black scabbardfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black scabbardfish |
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Aphanopus acus |
The black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo) is a fascinating deep-sea fish. It belongs to the family called Trichiuridae, which are known as cutlassfishes. You can find this fish in the Atlantic Ocean, living in very deep waters. It usually stays between 180 and 1,700 meters (about 590 to 5,577 feet) below the surface. These fish can grow quite long, up to 110 centimeters (about 3.6 feet). They become adults when they are around 80 to 85 centimeters (about 2.6 to 2.8 feet) long.
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What Does It Look Like?
The black scabbardfish has a very long, thin body. Imagine a fish that's super stretched out! Its body height is only about one-eighth of its total length. It has a big snout with strong, sharp, fang-like teeth, which are great for catching food.
Its top fin (dorsal fin) has many spines and soft rays. The fin underneath (anal fin) also has spines and soft rays. Young black scabbardfish have a small fin near their belly (pelvic fin), but adults don't have it at all. The fish is a coppery-black color with a shiny, rainbow-like look. The inside of its mouth and gill areas are completely black. Young fish are thought to live in slightly shallower waters, from 100 to 500 meters (about 328 to 1,640 feet) deep.
Life in the Deep Sea
The black scabbardfish spends its days in the very deep parts of the ocean. But when night comes, it swims up higher in the water to find food. It eats crustaceans (like shrimp), cephalopods (like squid), and other fish. Some of its favorite meals include grenadiers and codlings.
This fish is built for speed in the water. Its narrow, long body, pointy head, and long dorsal fin help it swim very fast. Its large mouth and sharp teeth make it a good hunter. The coppery-black color helps it blend in with the dark deep-sea environment. It also has very large eyes, which are about 18% of its head length. These big eyes help it see in the low light of the deep ocean.
Scientists believe that black scabbardfish might travel in a big circle around the Northeast Atlantic Ocean during their lives. They lay their eggs in certain areas, like around Madeira and the Canary Islands. The young fish then swim north to feed and grow. Once they are adults, they move back south to the spawning areas to lay their own eggs. The oldest black scabbardfish found were about 14 years old.
How They Reproduce
Black scabbardfish can lay eggs multiple times throughout their lives. When it's time to reproduce, the females release all their eggs at once during the breeding season. They are expected to be able to lay eggs for about 8 years.
Adult fish that are ready to reproduce are mostly found in the last few months of the year. This happens in places like Madeira, the Canary Islands, and off the northwest coast of Africa. Young females that are developing are often seen from April to August. The main time for reproduction is from September to December. After December, most females have already laid their eggs. Males are ready to reproduce throughout the year, but especially from July to November.
What They Eat
Black scabbardfish have a varied diet. They eat more than 35 different types of prey! This includes crustaceans, cephalopods (like squid), and many kinds of deep-sea fish. They especially like blue whiting. When they can't find their usual deep-sea meals, they might also hunt smaller fish like sardines or mackerel.
Tracking Fish with Parasites
The black scabbardfish can host a tiny worm-like parasite called Anisakis. These parasites are found in the fish's stomach or intestines. Scientists have found a clever way to use these parasites: they can help track where the black scabbardfish have traveled! Since these parasites are common in waters near Portugal and the Madeira Islands, scientists can study the parasites to learn about the fish's movements.
Where They Live and Travel
You can find black scabbardfish in different stages of their lives all across the Northeast Atlantic. They make a big clockwise journey during their lives. This journey is driven by their need to reproduce and find food.
They lay their eggs near the Madeira Islands and the Canary Islands, usually from October to December. After that, they are thought to swim north to cooler waters. There, they feed and grow bigger. Once they become adults, they swim south again, often to the waters off Portugal. When they are old enough to reproduce, they return to their spawning grounds. While Madeira is a well-known spawning area, some scientists think there might be other places off the northwestern coast of Africa where they also lay eggs.
Why They Are Important to People
The black scabbardfish is very important for fishing, especially in countries near the Iberian Peninsula, like Portugal and the Madeira Islands. People really value them for food because they have good quality meat. They are also fished around Iceland, France, Ireland, and parts of the Canary Islands. Because they are so tasty, they usually sell for high prices.
In Madeira and Portugal, the black scabbardfish and crab are two of the most popular seafood items. This means they play a big role in the local economy. In Portuguese waters, these fish are traditionally caught using lines. In other parts of the Atlantic, like near France and Ireland, big fishing boats called trawlers catch them. The amount of black scabbardfish caught has increased a lot over the years, showing how important they are.
Protecting the Black Scabbardfish
Black scabbardfish live deep in the ocean, mostly between 800 and 1,300 meters (about 2,625 to 4,265 feet) deep. They are often caught by accident along with other deep-sea fish. Because they are caught so much, they can be easily overfished, meaning too many are caught too quickly.
The Marine Conservation Society rates this species as a "five out of five" on their sustainability chart. This means it's very important to protect them and their ecosystem. Even though they are very important for fishing, their numbers are starting to go down in some parts of the Northeast Atlantic. It's important to make sure we fish them responsibly so they can continue to thrive in the ocean.
See also
In Spanish: Sable negro para niños
