Splendid Alfonsino

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Splendid Alfonsino
Species:	Beryx splendens
Category:	Deep-Sea Life
Length:	15in (38cm)
Appearance:	A bright red fish with large yellow eyes.
Location: (EO)	Abyss
Location: (EO2)	Zahhab Region Depths
Time:	Night only (EO) Day and night (EO2)
Dangerous:
Forms:	Adult only

The Splendid Alfonsino (Beryx splendens) is a species of deep-sea fish found in both Endless Ocean and Endless Ocean 2.

It has a brilliant red color, sometimes ranging into pink, and its scales are beautifully reflective. Its large eyes help it see in the dark environments it inhabits.

In-Game

Marine Encyclopedia

Endless Ocean

Description

"These fish have narrow, spindle-shaped bodies with large mouths and eyes and a tail fin that splits into two prongs. They are a striking red color with gold-rimmed eyes and can be seen year-round in relatively deep places.

The dorsal and pelvic fins of fry are elongated but still less than an inch long. They dwell several hundred feet below the surface during the day but swim in relatively shallow waters at night.

These fish have eyeballs with a reflective layer called the tapetum lucidum, which shines light back onto the retina and improves their vision. It is especially useful in the dark depths of the sea where little light can penetrate. This is the reason their eyes have a shiny gold color."

Endless Ocean 2

Description

"This red fish can be identified by its large golden eyes. Though normally seen as nothing more than a menu item, primitive bones found in its skull have led people to believe that this fish has existed for approximately one hundred million years. It is a fine example of an ancient fish."

[Golden Eyes]

"Inside the eyes of the splendid alfonsino is a tissue known as the tapetum. This tissue reflects light entering the eye and stimulates the photoreceptive cells in the eye a second time, helping the fish to see using the limited amount of light that reaches the dark sea depths.

The light reflected by the tapetum gives the eyes their golden color."

Location

Endless Ocean

These fish are found in the Abyss, very close to Passage to the Abyss if they swim into it; however, it only appears at night. It is advised that players be careful that they don't accidentally swim out of the Abyss while getting this fish's information.

Endless Ocean 2

These are found throughout the Zahhab Region Depths. A large, easy-to-find shoal can be seen swimming around the entrance to the Giant's Lair.

Behavior

Splendid alfonsino float around in medium-large, loose shoals. They seem to like being offered food, as well as responding positively to the light from the Underwater Pen. They are one of the fish in Endless Ocean that start following the player around if positively interacted with.

Gallery

The splendid alfonsino as seen in the first game.

Notes

Real-Life Information

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• As the second game states, the splendid alfonsino is a popular food fish, especially in the Western Pacific ocean - particularly in Japan, where it is prepared in a wide variety of ways. In Japanese, it is called kinmedai (金目鯛), which translates to "golden-eyed sea bream".
  • Its commercial popularity is contributing to lowering population numbers, especially considering that the splendid alfonsino reproduces slowly and lives for a long time.
• The first game reports that splendid alfonsinos tend to live in deep waters, but visit the surface at night; this is true. Juveniles, however, are pelagic, meaning that they inhabit the open ocean.
• The notes in both games about the part of the eye called the tapetum lucidum are largely correct. The splendid alfonsino does indeed have one, as does the entire alfonsino family and other animals that are often active in dark areas, like cats and dogs. Ferrets, deer, cows, and horses all have one as well, but squirrels, pigs, kangaroos, and humans don't.
  • The reason that cats' eyes and dogs' eyes appear to glow green or red when lit up in a dark place is because the tapeta is reflecting light back at the viewer.
• Though the second game's remarks upon the ancient lineage of the splendid alfonsino specifically are rather dubious, the order to which it belongs - Beryciformes - has a long fossil record, dating back to the late Cretaceous period. (The late Cretaceous took place about 65 million years ago, which is younger than Endless Ocean 2's estimate by roughly 35 million years.)

Navigation

Deep-Sea Life

Splendid Alfonsino • Common Fangtooth • Fanfin • Pelican Eel • Snailfish • Sea Pig
Chambered Nautilus • Popeye Grenadier • Barreleye • Humpback Anglerfish • Firefly Squid
Glass Squid • Galatheid Crab • Sea Gooseberry • Deep-Sea Blind Shrimp • Giant Sea Spider
Ocean Sunfish • Opah • Polka-Dot Ribbonfish • Vampire Squid • Giant Isopod • Longnose Lancetfish
Megamouth Shark • Goblin Shark • Frilled Shark • Bluntnose Sixgill Shark • Oarfish
Giant Siphonophore • Giant Squid (Deep-Sea Battle)