Specimens examined:5 (SL 86.5〜144.5 mm). Depth:800〜945 m.
Counts and measurements:D 10; A 18〜19; P1 10〜11. HL 20.6〜21.4% of SL, eye diameter 7.4〜8.2, body depth 14.6〜16.4.
本属のうち少なくとも5種が北大西洋で出現する。本種の和名はその銀色の体色に由来する。*印はCohen (1964 c) の計算値を含む。(藤井)
Distinctive characters:
(Family):Body compressed. Mouth small but eye not tubular. Pupil elongate horizontally with an aphakic space anteriorly. Pectoral fin low on body. Right and left gill membranes widely fused each other. Dorsal fin located above pelvic fin. Adipose fin present. No teeth on tongue. No photophores on head and body. Scales remarkably deciduous. Lateral line indistinct. (Genus):One genus, Bathylagus. (Species):Gill opening extending more than halfway up the side of body. Anal fin base longer than caudal peduncle length. Anal fin with 18〜21 rays*. Pelvic insertion just below the last ray of dorsal fin. Head and body silver in fresh; no scale pocket markings.
Distribution:
Tropocal to temperate waters of Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Type locality-Madeira.
Remarks:
At least 5 species of the genus occur in the North Atlantic. * Included reference data from Cohen (1964 c). (Fujii)