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Pringle's barrelfish (Hyperoglyphe pringlei) — Centrolophidae

Pringle's barrelfish

Hyperoglyphe pringlei

The Pringle's barrelfish (Hyperoglyphe pringlei) is a saltwater fish of the family Centrolophidae that grows up to 80 cm.

Length
80 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

Pringle's barrelfish is a robust, dark deep-water fish of the family Centrolophidae (medusafishes) reaching about 80 cm. The sturdy, brown-black body has a blunt head and a long, continuous dorsal fin. Like related barrelfishes, young fish shelter in open water near drifting material and jellyfish, while adults move to deeper water above the continental slope and seamounts along the West African coast. There it eats jellyfish, salps, squid, fish and crustaceans. With its firm, fatty flesh it is landed as bycatch of the deep-water fishery and traded locally. Because of its deep lifestyle it is seen only irregularly.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pringle's barrelfish?

The Pringle's barrelfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Pringle's barrelfish live?

The Pringle's barrelfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Pringle's barrelfish get?

The Pringle's barrelfish grows to a maximum of about 80 cm.

Is the Pringle's barrelfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Pringle's barrelfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Pringle's barrelfish edible?

Yes, the Pringle's barrelfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Pringles vatvis inferred
English name
Pringle's barrelfish verified
Scientific name
Hyperoglyphe pringlei
Family
Centrolophidae
Other names
Black butterfish sourced

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
80 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater verified
Substrate
Open water verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Small groups verified
Territorial
No verified
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten verified
Fishing method
Sportvissen met kunstaas of (dood/levend) aasvis door te trollen, te werpen of drijvend te vissen in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Hyperoglyphe

More from the family Centrolophidae

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