Melanostomias tentaculatus (Regan & Trewavas, 1930)
Tentacle dragonfish

Family:  Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Melanostomiinae
Max. size:  24 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 30 - 950 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Madeira to Angola, but not known between Mauritania and Guinea. Western Atlantic: USA to Brazil including the Gulf of Mexico. Also known from the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-17; Anal soft rays: 19-20. Body elongate and moderately slender. Short, blunt, non-protrusible snout. Long chin barbel bearing a nonterminal bulb. Barbel stem black, bulb and tentacle unpigmented (Ref. 37039).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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