Melamphaes polylepis Ebeling 1962

The species is characterized by the following: first gill arch with 20-22 rakers; vertebrae 29 (28-30 reported by Ebeling, 1962), abdominal vertebrae 11 (rarely, 12); two ventrolateral-oriented spurs on the haemal arch of the first caudal vertebra; D III 14-15 (rarely, III 13); P 15; soft rays in the ventral fin 7; ventral fin starts after the vertical line of the posterior margin of the pectoral fin basement (rarely, from this vertical line); anal fin starts under the last ray of the dorsal fin or just after the dorsal fin; operculum with 4 scales (Ref. 87970).

Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 7 - 8

This species is caught by open-mouth nets at 4228-0 m, with original sampling done by closing-mouth nets at 1000 m (Ref. 87970).

Melamphaes polylepis

M. polylepis has been recorded in the Atlantic mostly between 20°S and 20°N, but has been taken in the Straits of Florida. One juvenile female (37.0 mm) was captured in the Ocean Acre area in August during the day by an EMT fishing at 1025 m.

circumtropical in North Atlantic

Found at depths of 400- 1000 m.

nektonic