📖 Overview
Silver eye (Polymixia japonica) is a ray-finned fish of the family Polymixiidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in deep-water environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 30 cm. It occurs at depths between 160 and 628 metres. With a trophic level of 4.2, it is a mid-level predator. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Valued as a sport fish.
Scientific Name
Polymixia japonica
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 4 - 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 31 - 35; Anal spines: 4; Anal soft rays: 13 - 17; Vertebrae: 29. : fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Silver eye is currently being
reviewed.
🦐 Diet
small fish
crustaceans
cephalopods
🥚 Reproduction
🐣 Oviparous
📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 160 - 628 m . Deep-water; 40°N - 6°N, 97°E - 154°W East China Sea; Chesterfield Islands (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine
🌑 Deep Water
📐 Morphometrics
Length–Weight Relationship:
W = 0.01096 × L3.03
(TL)
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
IUCN Category
Least Concern
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
48.00/100
Moderate-High vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.2
Apex / Top predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Described By
Günther, 1877
🎣 Angling Guide
Fight Rating
strong pulls with head-shakes
Best Seasons
spring,summer,fall
Best Time
incoming tide, dawn and dusk
Rod Type
medium-heavy spinning
Catch & Release
✓ Recommended
Best Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Techniques
bottom fishing
popping cork
soft plastics
live bait
Bait & Lures
live shrimp
cut mullet
soft plastic paddle-tails
popping corks
Recommended Tackle
-
medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
-
30-50 lb braid
-
fluorocarbon leader
Where to Find Them
-
grass flats
-
oyster bars
-
marsh drains
-
deeper channel edges
Tips & Tricks
Popping cork technique attracts fish from distance. Fish moving tides.
Catch & Release Tips
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
Regulations Summary
⚠️
Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year |
Region |
Index |
Notes |
| - |
- |
- |
|
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
|
Language |
Common Names |
|
🇬🇧English
|
Japanese Beardfish · Silver eye · silver eyes
|
|
🇯🇵Japanese
|
Gimmedai · Ginmedai · ギンメダイ
|
|
🇷🇺Russian
|
Японская барбуда (полимиксия)
|
📚 Scientific References
13
publications cited
General
-
Froese, R. and Pauly, D. (Editors)
(2024).
FishBase.
World Wide Web electronic publication.
FishBase Consortium.
Link
↗
Conservation
-
IUCN
(2024).
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Version 2024-1.
International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Link
↗
Taxonomy
-
GBIF Secretariat
(2024).
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy.
Checklist dataset.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
DOI ↗
Nutrition
-
USDA Agricultural Research Service
(2024).
FoodData Central.
USDA National Nutrient Database.
United States Department of Agriculture.
Link
↗
Fishery
-
NOAA Fisheries
(2024).
FishWatch: U.S. Seafood Facts.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Link
↗
-
Monterey Bay Aquarium
(2024).
Seafood Watch Recommendations.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation.
Link
↗
Aquaculture
-
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
(2024).
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Link
↗
Distribution
-
Kaschner, K., Kesner-Reyes, K., Garilao, C., Segschneider, J., Rius-Barile, J., Rees, T., Froese, R.
(2024).
AquaMaps: Predicted range maps for aquatic species.
AquaMaps.
Link
↗
Ecology
-
Nelson, J.S., Grande, T.C., Wilson, M.V.H.
(2016).
Fishes of the World.
5th edition.
John Wiley & Sons.
Behavior
-
Helfman, G.S., Collette, B.B., Facey, D.E., Bowen, B.W.
(2009).
The Diversity of Fishes: Biology, Evolution, and Ecology.
2nd edition.
Wiley-Blackwell.
Morphology
-
Froese, R.
(2006).
Cube law, condition factor and weight-length relationships: history, meta-analysis and recommendations.
Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 22(4), 241-253.
DOI ↗
Toxicology
-
Halstead, B.W., Auerbach, P.S., Campbell, D.
(1988).
A Colour Atlas of Dangerous Marine Animals.
Wolfe Medical Publications.
Wolfe Medical.
Reproduction
-
Balon, E.K.
(1975).
Reproductive Guilds of Fishes: A Proposal and Definition.
Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 32(6), 821-864.
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 75 records indexed
.