Melamphaes ebelingi Keene 1973

Melamphaes ebelingi

Most known specimens of this species are from near Bermuda (Keene, 1973). The few others have been taken across the Atlantic between 20° and 25° N, with one at 5° S, 16°W. Ocean Acre collections contain 11 specimens, 4 of which are from discrete-depth, noncrepuscular samples from the paired cruises. They include 1 postlarva (17 mm), 7 juveniles (20.8–37.8), 1 subadult male (50.0), and 2 adult females (124.8–137.4).

During the day one juvenile was taken in a discrete-depth sample at 970–1060 m, and one postlarva, one juvenile, and the only subadult were taken by open nets sampling to maximum depths of 870–1060 m. At night juveniles were taken in discrete-depth samples at 290 m and 520 m and in nonclosing nets fishing to maximum depths of 300–780 m. One adult was taken at night in a discrete-depth sample at 1483–1548 m, the other in an EMT at a maximum depth of 1025 m. The adult from the eastern Atlantic was captured at night in an open net fished to 2100 m. These data suggest that juveniles undertake diel vertical migrations, but that adults may not.

The Ocean Acre specimens were taken from February through August. The 17 mm postlarva was taken in March, suggesting a late fall or winter spawning period. Specimens in June were 21–31 mm; in July 50 mm; in August, 29, 38, 51, and 137 mm; and in February, 125 mm. The 17–38 mm specimens almost certainly represent year class zero. The 50 mm specimen taken in July, a subadult, probably was in its second year of life, suggesting that sexual maturity may first be attained in the second fall or winter. The presence of 125 and 137 mm specimens suggests a life span of at least three or four years.