Body fusiform; mouth moderate, oblique; pseudobranch present; gill rakers on first arch 22–31 (geographical variation). Branchiostegal rays 10, 3 on epihyal. Dorsal-fin rays 11 (9–12); pectoral-fin rays 17–19; pelvic fin-rays 7; anal finrays 22–28; dorsal origin in advance of anal-fin origin; anus near anal fin origin; dorsal adipose fin present. Vertebrae 33–35. Swimbladder well developed, gas–filled, euphysoclistous. Scales deciduous.
Photophores (adult): ORB l; OP 3, OP3 single; BR (6); IP (6); VAV (6); AC in 3 groups as 2 long groups preceded by a single, elevated photophore: 1 + (14–17) + (89) = 23–27; PV (12–13); OA (2) + 5; SO present.
Body silver with dark back bearing light brown dorso–lateral undulating strip and a pigment extension ventrally at procurrent rays; anterior two dorsal-fin rays, dorsalmost pectoral-fin ray and outer 2 or 3 caudal-fin rays pigmented; snout and bones of jaw transparent with characteristic pigment spots.
Vertebrae 32–33, usually 33. Gill rakers 22–26, usually 23–25. AC¬∑photophores 20–24, usually 22–23. Pectoral-fin rays 15–17. First PV photophores of the right and left sides adjoining (separate in all other species). Head 30–34% SL, eye 11–13% SL, upper jaw 18–20% SL, maximum body depth well behind pectoral-fin base 27–31% SL. Stomach intensely pigmented, hind portion of intestine not pigmented.
Eastern equatorial Pacific off Ecuador and Galapagos Is.
Mesopelagic to benthopelagic, upper continental slopes.
Parin N, Kobyliansky S. 1996. Diagnoses and distribution of fifteen species recognized in genus Maurolicus Cocco (Sternoptychidae, Stomiiformes) with a key to their identification. Cybium 20(2):185–195.
To at least 34 mm SL.
What little data exists for species of the genus suggest that copepods and euphausiids are the predominant prey item.
Maurolicus breviculus is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Maurolicus. It lives in deep-water environments off the coast of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.[2]
Maurolicus breviculus is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Maurolicus. It lives in deep-water environments off the coast of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
