Leptostomias gladiator (Zugmayer, 1911)
Leptostomias gladiator
photo by SFSA

Family:  Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Melanostomiinae
Max. size:  37.3 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 5000 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: southern Ireland to Mauritania, Liberia, Angola and off South Africa. Western Atlantic: USA south to Cuba including Gulf of Mexico, and from Brazil to Argentina. Also found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19-22; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 23-29. Body slender. Blackish brown to deep black. Bulb of barbel creamy yellow, photophores violet (Ref. 37473).
Biology:  Mesopelagic species (Ref. 6808). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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