Body fusiform; mouth moderate, oblique; pseudobranch present; gill rakers on first arch 22–31 (geographical variation). Branchiostegal rays 10, 3 on epihyal. Dorsal-fin rays 11 (9–12); pectoral-fin rays 17–19; pelvic fin-rays 7; anal finrays 22–28; dorsal origin in advance of anal-fin origin; anus near anal fin origin; dorsal adipose fin present. Vertebrae 33–35. Swimbladder well developed, gas–filled, euphysoclistous. Scales deciduous.
Photophores (adult): ORB l; OP 3, OP3 single; BR (6); IP (6); VAV (6); AC in 3 groups as 2 long groups preceded by a single, elevated photophore: 1 + (14–17) + (89) = 23–27; PV (12–13); OA (2) + 5; SO present.
Body silver with dark back bearing light brown dorso–lateral undulating strip and a pigment extension ventrally at procurrent rays; anterior two dorsal-fin rays, dorsalmost pectoral-fin ray and outer 2 or 3 caudal-fin rays pigmented; snout and bones of jaw transparent with characteristic pigment spots.
Vertebrae 30–31, usually 31. Gill rakers 22–24. AC photophores 24–27, usually 25–26. Pectoral-fin rays 16–17. Head 28.5–31% SL, eye 9.5–10.5% SL, upper jaw 16.5–17.5% SL, maximum body depth at or behind pectoral fin base 23–25% SL. Stomach and hind part of intestine not pigmented.
Eastern tropical Indian Ocean off Java and Australia, northern Coral Sea.
Mesopelagic to benthopelagic, upper continental slopes. A diel vertical migrator.
Parin N, Kobyliansky S. 1996. Diagnoses and distribution of fifteen species recognized in genus Maurolicus Cocco (Sternoptychidae, Stomiiformes) with a key to their identification. Cybium 20(2):185–195.
To at least 44 mm SL.
What little data exists for species of the genus suggest that copepods and euphausiids are the predominant prey item.
Maurolicus javanicus, also known as the Javan pearlside, is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Maurolicus.[1] It lives in deep water environments off Java, Australia, and Indonesia.[1] It has 30-31 vertebrae.[2]
Maurolicus javanicus, also known as the Javan pearlside, is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Maurolicus. It lives in deep water environments off Java, Australia, and Indonesia. It has 30-31 vertebrae.
