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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Deep-water 🎣 Game Fish

Silver eye

Polymixia japonica Günther, 1877
Max Length
30 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.2
Depth
160–628 m
Climate
Deep-water
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
48.00/100
Typical Length
20 cm
Depth Zone
deep-water

📖 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
Authority
Günther, 1877
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Deep-water
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
30 cm
Depth Range
160–628 m
Trophic Level
4.2
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
48.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 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
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 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
Trophic Level
4.2±0.71

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01096 × L3.03 (TL)
Max TL
30cm
Dorsal Spines
5
Dorsal Rays
33
Anal Spines
4
Anal Rays
15
Vertebrae
29

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2018

📊 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
Climate Zone
Deep-water
Described By
Günther, 1877

🎣 Angling Guide

Difficulty
Beginner
Fight Rating
strong pulls with head-shakes
Best Seasons
spring,summer,fall
Best Time
incoming tide, dawn and dusk
Line Weight
15-30
Rod Type
medium-heavy spinning
Hook Size
2/0-5/0
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
  1. Froese, R. and Pauly, D. (Editors) (2024). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. FishBase Consortium. Link ↗
Conservation
  1. IUCN (2024). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2024-1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Link ↗
Taxonomy
  1. GBIF Secretariat (2024). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. DOI ↗
Nutrition
  1. USDA Agricultural Research Service (2024). FoodData Central. USDA National Nutrient Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Link ↗
Fishery
  1. NOAA Fisheries (2024). FishWatch: U.S. Seafood Facts. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Link ↗
  2. Monterey Bay Aquarium (2024). Seafood Watch Recommendations. Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation. Link ↗
Aquaculture
  1. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department (2024). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Link ↗
Distribution
  1. 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
  1. Nelson, J.S., Grande, T.C., Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World. 5th edition. John Wiley & Sons.
Behavior
  1. 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
  1. 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
  1. Halstead, B.W., Auerbach, P.S., Campbell, D. (1988). A Colour Atlas of Dangerous Marine Animals. Wolfe Medical Publications. Wolfe Medical.
Reproduction
  1. 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 .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

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