Eustomias schmidti Regan & Trewavas, 1930
Schmidt's dragonfish
Eustomias schmidti
photo by SFSA

Family:  Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Melanostomiinae
Max. size:  21.2 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 50 - 150 m
Distribution:  Atlantic and Pacific: between 35-40°N and 30-35°S, primarily in boundary currents or equatorial waters; generally absent from gyres.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22-28; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 36-43. Barbel with three branches arising from stem; medial branch stout, bulbous and with distal filaments barely reaching to barbel tip; lateral branches tapering, extending well beyond end of barbel (except in small specimens); terminal bulb unpigmented and elongated, occupying most of distal barbel, tightly constricted distally into spheroidal terminal section; terminal filament or single-based group of filaments arising ventrally from constriction.
Biology:  Epi- and mesopelagic (Ref. 58302).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 October 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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