Animalia Life

Steindachneria argentea
FAMILY
Steindachneriidae
TAXONOMY
Steindachneria argentea Goode and Bean, 1896, off Mississippi River delta.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
None known.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Body long, compressed, tapering to a fine point and tiny caudal fin. Anus separated from urogenital opening, the former situated between the pelvic fin bases, the latter just ahead of the anal fin. A light organ present on the ventral part of body and sides of head, appearing as purplish, striated area. First dorsal fin has one spine and 7–9 rays; second dorsal and anal fins each has more than 123 rays. Anterior portion of anal fin elevated, containing 10–12 rays. Pectoral fin has 14–17 rays. First ray of pelvic fin filamentous. Body silvery, upper part somewhat brownish, belly purplish.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in the central western Atlantic Ocean and off the East Coast of the United States, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea as far as Venezuela.
HABITAT
Occurs on outer part of continental shelf and upper continental slope, usually over soft bottoms.
BEHAVIOR
Unknown.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Unknown.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Eggs of this species are undescribed. The larvae are pelagic and are uncommonly collected in the Gulf of Mexico. They have large heads and large eyes, and the pectoral fins are somewhat stalked as they develop. The striated luminous organ begins to develop in larvae as small as 0.9 in (24.0 mm), when fin rays are completely formed. The anus and urogenital opening initially are found together, but the anus migrates forward with development.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
No fishery is directed at this species, although large quantities are sometimes landed between depths of 1,300 and 1,640 ft (400 and 500 m) in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

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