We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Aquatic

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is the Alfonsino?

By Bethney Foster
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 7,239
Share

Alfonsino is the common name given to any of the three species of fish that make up the genus Beryx in the family Berycidae. The three species are Beryx decadactylus, Beryx mollis, and Beryx splendens. The alfonsino fish, sometimes called alfonsin, are found in temperate and tropical deep waters of oceans throughout the world. These fish have been dated back to the Cretaceous period, between 145 and 65 million years ago.

The alfonsino is found at depths of 33 to 4,300 feet (10 to 1,300 meters). Red in color, the fish are often orange on their undersides. The fins and the insides of their mouths are bright red. Growing to 24 inches in length (60 cm), the alfonsino has spiny scales, a large mouth, and large eyes.

The body of the fish is compressed. There are four dorsal spines, and each is progressively longer than the one before it. Juvenile fish have spines on their heads, and their second dorsal ray is elongated. The young fish tend to live in the open water before going into the deep water inhabited by the adult fish as they mature. The fish reach sexually maturity at three to four years.

The female fish tend to be slightly larger than the male fish. Indications are that in populations of alfonsino, females are more abundant than males. The alfonsino reproduces by spawning. Eggs float on top of the water and hatch after one to eight days.

The three species are similar. Beryx decadactylus, the common alfonsino, is found in oceans throughout the world with the exception of the eastern Pacific. Beryx splendens, the splendid alfonsino, grows larger than the other species with lengths reaching more than 27 inches (69 cm). This species of alfonsino fish is not found in the northeast Pacific waters.

The diet of these fish consists of crustaceans, smaller fish. and cephalopods. Staying near the bottom of the ocean during the day, the fish travels to mid-water at night. They are prey to other fish, such as sharks, and to humans.

The three species are commercially harvested by a trawl that is dragged across or near the bottom of the ocean. The fish are sold under names such as imperador, red bream, and Tasmanian snapper. The fish is frozen and then prepared by steaming, frying, or baking. Beryx splendens is called kinmedai in Japanese, nizkoteliy beryx in Russian, and bitgeumnundom in Korean.

Share
All Things Nature is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.allthingsnature.org/what-is-the-alfonsino.htm
Copy this link
All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.