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Oreosoma atlanticum
Oreosoma atlanticum, conventional and X-ray images
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Zeiformes
Family:	Oreosomatidae
Subfamily:	Oreosomatinae
Genus:	Oreosoma G. Cuvier, 1829
Species:	O. atlanticum
Binomial name
Oreosoma atlanticum G. Cuvier, 1829

Oreosoma atlanticum, also known as the ox-eyed oreo, is a species of oreo found in oceanic deep waters. It is the only known member of its genus. Although adults are more similar in shape to other oreos, the juveniles have a distinctive plating/armor in their skin, which is spiked and probably makes them harder to eat for any hostile creature. Adults lack that plating, and, as other oreos, they have a protractile mouth and very large eyes, with small scales.

Description

This species grows to a length of 21 cm (8.3 in). The adults are deep bodied and laterally compressed with a strongly humped back They have a small head with large eyes.

The juveniles are dark grey or black in colour with rounded white blotches. Their fins are translucent. They have a rounded stomach with two rows of cone-shaped protrusions. They have another four rows of similar protrusions along their backs. These projections make them highly distinctive.

Distribution and habitat

This species is found at depths of 220 to 1,550 m (720 to 5,090 ft).

References

• Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Oreosoma atlanticum". FishBase. October 2012 version.

1. ^ Zsilavecz, Guido (2005). Coastal fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay : a divers' identification guide. Cape Town: Southern Underwater Research Group. ISBN 0-620-34230-7. OCLC 70133147.

• Media related to Oreosoma atlanticum at Wikimedia Commons

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• Oreosomatidae
• Fish described in 1829
• Taxa named by Georges Cuvier
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