Abyssal spiderfish

The abyssal spiderfish, Bathypterois longipes, is a species of deepsea tripod fish, a demersal fish living on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, even on the abyssal plain. It is one of the deepest-dwelling fish known.

Abyssal spiderfish
Abyssal spiderfish from Oceanic Ichthyology by G. Brown Goode & Tarleton H. Bean (1896)
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Aulopiformes
Family:	Ipnopidae
Genus:	Bathypterois
Species:	B. longipes
Binomial name
Bathypterois longipes Günther, 1878

Environment

Marine : bathydemersal ( feeds below 200 meters )

It lives in extremely cold water, at temperatures of 0 – −9 °C (32–16 °F). depth range 2615 - 5610 meters

Biology

This solitary fish grows about 9 inch 22 cm long at max. It Uses its specialized fin rays (tripod) to elevate body into water column. Specialized sensory pectoral fins are spread facing anteriorly, probably to detect prey. Feeds on planktonic crustaceans

Distribution

Atlantic Ocean: Off northwestern (south of Cape Verde; off Cape Blanc) and southwestern Africa, both sides of North Atlantic, off Uruguay in the South Atlantic.