Teleostei (teleosts) >
Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and dragonfishes) >
Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes) > Malacosteinae
Etymology: Photostomias: Greek, photos = light + greek, stoma = mouth (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Jules Germain Maloteau de Guerne (1855–1931) was a French zoologist and geographer. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 1138 - 3100 m (Ref. 5951). Deep-water; 40°N - 56°S
Western Atlantic: USA to the Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 4429); reported from the Antilles (Ref. 26340). Eastern Atlantic: southern Portugal to Mauritania. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Indo-Pacific: in tropical and temperate areas (Ref. 559). Southeast Pacific: Chile (Ref. 9068).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26340)
Dorsal soft rays (total): 22 - 28; Anal soft rays: 25 - 32. This species is distinguished by having 2 pairs of basibranchial tooth patches; D 23-26, A 27-30, the sum of dorsal- and anal-fin rays 50-56; male postorbital organ length moderate, specimens greater than 6.0 cm, 45.5-144.5% fleshy orbit, 7.8-28.1% jaw length (JL); male anterior orbital organ length moderate, specimens greater than 6.0 cm, 4.5-21.7% fleshy orbit, 0.8-4.9% JL (Ref. 75669)..
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Mesopelagic species (Ref. 4469). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kenaley, C.P. and K.E. Hartel, 2005. A revision of Atlantic species of Photostomias (Teleostei: Stomiidae: Malacosteinae), with a description of a new species. Ichthyol. Res. 52(3):251-263. (Ref. 75669)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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