Eustomias variabilis Regan & Trewavas, 1930

Family:  Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Melanostomiinae
Max. size:  14.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Straits of Florida, the northern Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean Sea, and off the northern coast of South America.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 22-24; Anal soft rays: 33-37. Body slender and elongate, color black; body depth 8-10% SL. Long, tapering, protrusible snout. Chin barbel moderately short, 18-41% SL. Barbel with slender stem and 2-4 terminal bulbs, with proximal (0.3-1.3% SL) and distal (0.6-2.1% SL) bulbs separated by a distance of 4-6.2% SL. Distal bulb bears terminal filaments 0.3-4.9% SL that either possess or lack swollen bulblets. Deep ventral groove absent. Pectoral rays free (Ref. 37039).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 October 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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