Teleostei (teleosts) >
Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and dragonfishes) >
Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes) > Melanostomiinae
Etymology: Melanostomias: Greek, melan, -anos = black + Greek, stoma = mouth (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Regan & Trewavas.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic. Deep-water; 32°N - 20°N
Eastern Atlantic: 24°N 20°W (near Mauritania). Western Atlantic: USA to Cuba.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 15.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 37473)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 13; Anal soft rays: 17. Body moderately elongate and slender, short, blunt, non protrusible snout. Chin barbel expanded and pigmented distal section. Black in color, barbel lightly to darkly pigmented (Ref. 37039).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Gibbs, R.H. and M.A. Barnett, 1990. Melanostomiidae. p. 308-337. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 1. (Ref. 4468)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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