Pearlsides
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 Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
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| Maurolicus muelleri Gmelin, 1789 |
The pearlsides, pearlside, Mueller's bristle-mouth fish, Muller's bristlemouth fish, or Mueller's pearlsides, Maurolicus muelleri, a marine hatchetfish of the genus Maurolicus, is found in deep tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans, from the surface to depths of 1,500 m. Its length is between 5 and 8 cm.
The pearlsides is unusual in that it is moderately elongate compared to the very deep-bodied shape of the other members of the family. The first dorsal fin is set about halfway along the back while the second is adipose, long, and thin. All fins are thin and filamentous and are usually damaged when the fish is caught. On the undersides there are rows of various-sized photophores which glow purple.
The colour is blue-green above with silver sides and belly.
Pearlsides carry out diel vertical migrations, rising to near the surface at night. They spawn in mid-water at about 250 to 500 m depth, the fertilised eggs slowly rising to the surface where laval development takes place.
[edit] References
- Maurolicus muelleri (TSN 162187). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 18 April 2006.
- "Maurolicus muelleri". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8
