Western deepsea cardinalfish
📖 Overview
Western deepsea cardinalfish (Epigonus occidentalis) is a ray-finned fish of the family Epigonidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in deep-water environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 25.8 cm. It occurs at depths between 144 and 735 metres. With a trophic level of 3.5, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10. Well-developed opercular spines present. Distance between the anal opening and the beginning of the anal fin is 41-55 percent of the distance between the base of the pelvic fin and the anal opening .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Western deepsea cardinalfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 144 - 735 m . Deep-water Central Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Western Deepsea Cardinalfish |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Cardenal Pálido de Profundidad |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epigonus megalops | Smith & Radcliffe | 1912 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Western deepsea cardinalfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.