Teleostei (teleosts) >
Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and dragonfishes) >
Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes) > Malacosteinae
Etymology: Malacosteus: Greek, malakos = soft + Greek, osteon = bone (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Ayres.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 500 - 3886 m (Ref. 50610). Deep-water; 66°N - 35°S, 180°W - 180°E (Ref. 78501)
Worldwide in all oceans from Arctic latitudes at 66°N to approx. 30°S in the southern hemisphere; unknown in the Mediterranean.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 25.6 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5951)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 0;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 17-21;
Anal
spines: 0;
Anal
soft rays: 18 - 24;
Vertebrae: 47 - 51. This species possess the following characters: in male, postorbital photophore (PO) 5.8-11.9% upper jaw length (UJL), 1.5-3.1% SL; female PO 2.8-8.1% UJL, 0.8-11.9% SL; IP photophores 3-5 in 3-5 clusters (Ref. 78501).
Meso- and bathypelagic (Ref. 58302). It has been suggested that this species does not undergo substantial diel vertical migration and remains below 500 m (Ref. 78501). Feeds on crustaceans and fishes (Ref. 58426).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kenaley, C.P., 2007. Revision of the stoplight loosejaw genus Malacosteus (Teleostei: Stomiidae: Malacosteinae), with description of a new species from the temperate Southern Hemisphere and Indian Ocean. Copeia 2007(4):886-900. (Ref. 78501)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 126983)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
More information
Common namesSynonymsMetabolismPredatorsEcotoxicologyReproductionMaturitySpawningSpawning aggregationFecundityEggsEgg development
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingNutrientsMass conversion
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