Teleostei (teleosts) >
Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and dragonfishes) >
Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes) > Melanostomiinae
Etymology: Pachystomias: Greek, pachys = fat + Greek, stoma = mouth (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 660 - 4000 m (Ref. 74511). Deep-water; 50°N - 37°S, 65°W - 154°W
Eastern Atlantic: scattered records from 50°N-31°N, then between 16°N-18°S and from 28°S-37°S but not taken close to the continent south of the equator. Western Atlantic: scattered records from 40°N-13°N. Also known from the Indian and Pacific oceans. South China Sea (Ref.74511).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 22.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4468)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20 - 24; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 23 - 28. Body moderately elongated, slightly compressed. Snout shorter than eye. Jaws slender, gape slightly curved upward. Barbel slender, tapering without a bulb. Velvety dark brown to black (Ref. 37473).
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
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