Abyssal halosaur

Abyssal halosaur
Abyssal halosaur, Halosauropsis macrochir
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
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
Halosaurus macrochirGünther 1878 Aldrovandia macrochir(Günther 1878) Halosaurus goodeiGill 1883 Halosaurus nigerGilchrist 1906

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 of 1100 to 3500 meters. ^{[2] [3]} It is the only member of its genus. ^[4]

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. ^[3] could not sex fish smaller than 25 cm, giving an indication about length at maturation. Abyssal halosaur are long-lived, with maximum reported age of 36 years, although individuals sampled on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge were mostly <20 years. It appears to be an opportunistic feeder, mostly taking epibenthos and small fish. ^[3]

References

1. Tighe, K.; Carpenter, K.E. (2015). "Halosauropsis macrochir". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015 e.T195840A2425949. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T195840A2425949.en . Retrieved 1 March 2025.
2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Halosauropsis macrochir". FishBase . June 2011 version.
3. Bergstad, O. A.; Clark, L.; Hansen, H. Ø.; Cousins, N. (2012). "Distribution, population biology, and trophic ecology of the deepwater demersal fish Halosauropsis macrochir (Pisces: Halosauridae) on the mid-Atlantic ridge". PLOS ONE. 7 (2) e31493. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...731493B. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031493 . PMC   3285165 . PMID   22384030.
4. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Halosauropsis Collett, 1896".