| Family: |
Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Melanostomiinae |
| Max. size: |
25.3 cm SL (male/unsexed); 17.9 cm SL (female) |
| Environment: |
pelagic-oceanic; marine |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: two records at 5°N 20°W and 11°S 11°W. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, and the western Atlantic from 12°N to 23°S. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-25; Anal soft rays: 35-42. Body black, elongate and slender; depth 5-8% SL. Long, tapering protrusible snout. Slender barbel stem and two terminal bulbs. Barbel stem has little or no external pigment (Ref. 37039). Two terminal bulbs separated by a short interspace, less than half to 1.5 the length of distal bulb. Barbel length increasing to 70-91% SL in specimens 10.5-15 cm, apparently decreasing in large females (17.9-25.3 cm) to 46-51%. Terminal filament short (9% SL or less, slightly longer to 5 times longer than distal bulb) with 2 well-developed side branches arising just distal to bulb and often other branches along its length. All branches with prominent internal bulblets, some nearly the same diameter as branch, resulting in a series of swellings in many specimens. No melanophores in stem, between bulbs, or in filaments in specimens up to 15 cm SL; none between bulbs at any size. Middorsal paired spots under skin between occiput and dorsal-fin origin usually 8, sometimes 7 (Ref. 11333). |
| Biology: |
Feeds on midwater fishes (Ref. 37039). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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