Trachipterus altivelis Kner, 1859
King-of-the-salmon

Family:  Trachipteridae (Ribbonfishes)
Max. size:  183 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 0 - 900 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Alaska to Chile.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 165-184; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0; Vertebrae: 90-94. First 5 rays of dorsal fin greatly elongated in young becoming reduced with age, otherwise rather higher in center, extending almost to caudal and ends abruptly (Ref. 6885); caudal fin highly asymmetric, dorsal lobe becomes well developed in juveniles with 7-8 rays directed upward at an angle of 45° to body axis, and eventually with growth is much reduced; ventral lobe elongate in young specimens becoming reduced to 5-6 spines directed backward from the caudal base in older individuals; anal fin absent; pectorals small, rounded; pelvic fins elongate in young and juveniles, reduced to base in larger individuals (Ref. 6885). Juveniles iridescent silvery with a series of about 4 dark blotches spaced above lateral line canal; upright and pelvic fins carmine red; larger individuals rather very silvery and greener with light spots, around scales; posterior end of dorsal fin darker (Ref. 6885).
Biology:  Oceanic (Ref. 2850). Also found near shore, but large adults sometimes feed on the bottom (Ref. 2850). Small individuals feed on copepods, annelid worms, and fish larvae; larger individuals feed on copepods, euphausiids, small pelagic fishes, young rockfishes, squid, and Octopoda (Ref. 6885). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 36610).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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