Crested oarfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crested oarfish |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: |
Lampriformes
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| Family: |
Lophotidae
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| Genus: |
Lophotus
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| Species: |
L. lacepede
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| Binomial name | |
| Lophotus lacepede Giorna, 1809
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The crested oarfish (Lophotus lacepede) is a species of crestfish in the family Lophotidae. It is an oceanodromous fish ranging from waters 0–92 meters deep, but may get stranded in shallow waters.
Distribution and habitat
The crested oarfish lives in warm seas, near areas such as the Western Atlantic, Western Indian Ocean, Eastern Atlantic, and the Eastern Pacific, in the oceanic and mesopelagic zone.
Description and ecology
They have a maximum length of 200 centimeters, but are often are only 100 centimeters in length. It has an ink sack near the cloaca, and discharges ink out of it when it feels alarmed. Its prey are squids, and fishes such as anchovies. It is oviparous, and lays planktonic eggs.
Conservation
The crested oarfish are likely found in marine protected areas, and have no specific conservation measures in place, and no specific threats. The IUCN Red List lists this as a least concern species.
Synonymised names
Placed by the WoRMS.
- Leptopus peregrinus Rafinesque, 1814
- Lophotes cristatus Johnson, 1863 (misspelling)
- Lophotus cepedianus Cloquet, 1823
- Lophotus cristatus Johnson, 1863
- Lophotus lacepedei Giorna, 1809 (misspelling)
