| Family: |
Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Astronesthinae |
| Max. size: |
35 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 500 - 2500 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: Madeira south to Angola. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean Sea. One specimen collected off the Guianas (Ref. 13608). Elsewhere, Indian and Pacific oceans. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-15; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 16-17. Teeth on maxilla 7. POSTORB single. AC greatly arched behind the anal fin base. Stem of barbel black; the distal end forming a small, spherical white bulb lacking filaments (Ref. 559). Body moderately slender and elongate. Serial photophores not broken in small groups. Black in color (Ref. 37039). |
| Biology: |
Quite common in deep oceanic waters, usually living deeper than 500 m during the day. Smaller individuals migrate to near-surface or even surface waters at night. Feeds on midwater fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 2802). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 April 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
