Scientific Name	Desmodema polystictum   Pronounce			by: Lab of Fish Ecol. and Evo., BRCAS
Author	(Ogilby, 1898)	Depth	0 - 500M
Chinese	多斑扇尾魚	Poisonous Fish	No
Family_Chinese	粗鰭魚科	Economic Fish	Yes
Family	F206　Trachipteridae	Edible Fish	Yes	Chinese In Mainland China	多斑扇尾魚
Max Length	110 cm	Aquarium Fish	No	Common Name	粗鰭魚、白龍魚(澎湖)
Distribution in World	global	Distribution in Taiwan	North
Habitats	Ocean、Deep Sea、Coastal	Holotype Locality	Off Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia [Tasman Sea, southwestern Pacific]
Synonyms	Trachipterus misakiensis, Trachipterus polystictus, Trachipterus woodi, Trachypterus jacksoniensis polystictus, Trachypterus misakiensis
Reference	臺灣魚類誌(沈等, 1993)；Fishes of Japan(Nakabo, 2002)  沈世傑 編 Shih-Chieh Shen ed. 1993 Nakabo T. 2002
Specimen List	ASIZP0057405. ASIZP0065470. FRIP01148. NMMBP00891.
Common Name	Polkadot ribbonfish; Polka-dot ribbonfish; Spotted ribbonfish; Dealfish
Redlist Status	Not in IUCN Redlist
Characteristic	Body elongate, ribbon-like, compressed; body depth gradually decreasing from head to caudal peduncle. Head small. Snout length shorter eye diameter. Pointed teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines. Scales present in juveniles; absent in adult. Dorsal fin very long, extending along entire body length to tail, with 116-131 rays; anterior dorsal-fin rays elongate in juveniles, reduced in adult; anal fin absent; pelvic fins with 7-10 rays, elongate in juveniles, and absent in adult; caudal fin without 2 lobes and not sharply upturned. Head and body usually silver; specimens less than 10 cm with many dark spots.
habitats	Mesopelagic species, sometimes drifting to coastal regions. Feeds upon various organisms like small fish, squids, octopus, and crustaceans. The eggs are free-floating, large, and red.
Distribution	Probably circumtropical. It very rare and only found in northern Taiwanese waters.
Utility	No commercial importance.