Eustomias bigelowi Welsh, 1923

Family:  Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Melanostomiinae
Max. size:  19.8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 0 - 500 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: roughly between 20-35°N and 35-90°W. South Atlantic: within 0-25°S and 0-30°W. Also known from the western Indian (1 record) and Pacific oceans; near Hawaii and south of the equator in the eastern Pacific.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 22-26; Anal soft rays: 37-42. Body slender and elongate; body depth 6.7-9.1% SL. Head length 11.4-14.4% SL. Lower jaw about as long as upper jaw. Long, tapering, protrusible snout. Chin barbel 11.2-12.9% SL. Barbel with slender stem, 3 branches, and a globular terminal bulb. Branches located medial to bulb and are slightly shorter to slightly longer than distance from base of branches to tip of barbel, and bear several side branches. Terminal bulb with several branched filaments near tip. Two tightly bound pectoral rays (Ref. 37039).
Biology:  Mesopelagic (Ref. 58302).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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