Malacosteus niger Ayres, 1848
Stoplight loosejaw
photo by Bañón Díaz, R.

Family:  Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Malacosteinae
Max. size:  25.6 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 500 - 3886 m
Distribution:  Worldwide in all oceans from Arctic latitudes at 66°N to approx. 30°S in the southern hemisphere; unknown in the Mediterranean.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-21; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 18-24; Vertebrae: 47-51. This species possess the following characters: in male, postorbital photophore (PO) 5.8-11.9% upper jaw length (UJL), 1.5-3.1% SL; female PO 2.8-8.1% UJL, 0.8-11.9% SL; IP photophores 3-5 in 3-5 clusters (Ref. 78501).
Biology:  Meso- and bathypelagic (Ref. 58302). It has been suggested that this species does not undergo substantial diel vertical migration and remains below 500 m (Ref. 78501). Feeds on crustaceans and fishes (Ref. 58426).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.