Bellottia apoda Giglioli 1883

Mouth is large, with strong jaws; six caudal rays (Ref. 13359). Swim-bladder present; pelvic fins absent; several sharp spines present at lower angle of opercle; precaudal vertebrae 10 to 12; caudal fin broadly joined to dorsal and anal fins; male intromittent organ lacking ossified parts; females have genital pores (Ref. 34024).

Viviparous (Ref. 34024).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 81 - 96; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 64 - 76

Bellottia apoda has a nocturnal activity, because of its nocturnal catchability and the great number of full stomachs (Ref. 13359). It is a carnivorous predator, the food appears to be a mixture of planktonic and benthic preys, which indicates a bentho-pelagic feeding behaviour (Ref. 13359).

Depth range from 30-500 m (Ref. 6526) and from 460-569 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). The food of Bellottia apoda appears to be a mixture of planktonic and benthic preys (Ref. 13359). Viviparous (Ref. 6526). Uncommon species (Ref. 34024), but it is not so rare as it seemed in the Adriatic Sea (Ref. 13359).

fisheries: of no interest

Known from seamounts and knolls