Teleostei (teleosts) >
Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and dragonfishes) >
Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes) > Astronesthinae
Etymology: Borostomias: Greek, boros, -a, -on = gluttonous + Greek, stomías, -ou = a tough, hard -mouthed horse (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 500 - 2500 m (Ref. 58018). Deep-water; 36°N - 18°S, 98°W - 143°E
Eastern Atlantic: Madeira south to Angola. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean Sea. One specimen collected off the Guianas (Ref. 13608). Elsewhere, Indian and Pacific oceans.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 35.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 37039)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 16 - 17. Teeth on maxilla 7. POSTORB single. AC greatly arched behind the anal fin base. Stem of barbel black; the distal end forming a small, spherical white bulb lacking filaments (Ref. 559). Body moderately slender and elongate. Serial photophores not broken in small groups. Black in color (Ref. 37039).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated; Cross section: compressed.
Quite common in deep oceanic waters, usually living deeper than 500 m during the day. Smaller individuals migrate to near-surface or even surface waters at night. Feeds on midwater fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 2802).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Gibbs, R.H. Jr., 1990. Astronesthidae. p. 300-307. 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. 4465)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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