Borostomias mononema (Regan & Trewavas, 1929)
Sickle snaggletooth
Borostomias mononema
photo by JAMARC

Family:  Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Astronesthinae
Max. size:  31 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range - 658 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Morocco south to Congo. Western Atlantic: southern part of USA to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. One specimen collected off the Guianas (Ref. 13608). Western Pacific: Australia (Ref. 7300) and New Zealand (Ref. 5755). Also known from the Northwest Pacific (Ref. 41173). Elsewhere, Indian Ocean.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-13; Anal soft rays: 18-18. Body moderately elongate and slender, enlarge fanglike teeth in the jaws. Moderate chin barbel, bulbous black proximal part and narrow pale distal part. Serial photophores not broken into small groups (Ref. 37039).
Biology:  An oceanic and mesopelagic species usually found deeper than 500 m during the day (Ref. 2802). Feeds on midwater fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 2802).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 May 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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