Ritter-Zahony, 1911
Description
Body fairly firm and semi transparent. Two pairs of lateral fins, separated and completely rayed. The anterior fins are short, beginning near the posterior end of the ventral ganglion. The posterior fins are located equally on the trunk and tail. Collarette short; no alimentary diverticula. eyes small, with a small irregularly shaped pigment spot.
Ovaries broad, reaching to the anterior fin; ova large. Seminal vesicles are elongated, triangular in shape, touching both posterior and tail fins.
Hooks: 5-9. Teeth in two rows, anterior 6-10, posterior 15-23.
Size
Maximum body length 15 mm; relative tail length 25-28%.
Depth range
Epipelagic.
Distribution in the North Sea
Rare in the southern and northern North Sea, entered from the adjacent Atlantic waters.
World distribution
Epipelagic, neritic; Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
[After Pierrot-Bults and Chidgey, 1988]