Abyssal halosaur
| Abyssal halosaur | |
|---|---|
| Abyssal halosaur, Halosauropsis macrochir | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Notacanthiformes |
| Family: | Halosauridae |
| Genus: | Halosauropsis Collett, 1896 |
| Species: | H. macrochir
|
| Binomial name | |
| Halosauropsis macrochir (Günther, 1878)
| |
| Synonyms | |
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The abyssal halosaur (Halosauropsis macrochir) is a species of bottom-dwelling, deep-sea fish in the family Halosauridae that is found in all oceans at depths from 1100 to 3500 meters. It is the only member of its genus.
The abyssal halosaur can reach total length of at least 76 centimetres (30 in) and weight in excess of 400 grams (14 oz). Berstad et al. could not sex fish smaller than 25 cm, giving an indication that maturation must occur at when individuals grow to a certain length. Abyssal halosaurs are also long-lived, with maximum reported age of 36 years, although individuals sampled on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge were mostly younger than 20 years. The species appears to be an opportunistic feeder, mostly taking epibenthos and small fish.