Eustomias cryptobulbus Clarke, 2001
Hiddenbulb dragonfish

Family:  Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Melanostomiinae
Max. size:  13.9 cm SL (male/unsexed); 16.5 cm SL (female)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 975 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: known from two stations in the Indian Ocean and from many areas throughout the Pacific. Also known from four stations in the southeast Atlantic.
Diagnosis:  Barbel with three slender, unpigmented branches arising together from stem; all three reaching to or well beyond barbel tip; barbel stem pigmented externally up to origin of branches; only axis of distal part of stem pigmented except for an elongate, often distally forked, patch of external pigment extending dorsally from distal section of stem almost to distal tip of terminal bulb; bulb elongate, its length well over two times in its thickness; medial and lateral terminal filaments arising from unpigmented bulb tip (Ref. 45801).
Biology:  Epi- and mesopelagic with most captures above 225 m fishing depths (Ref. 58302).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 October 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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