| Family: |
Oneirodidae (Dreamers) |
| Max. size: |
12.2 cm SL (female) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range - 2500 m |
| Distribution: |
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-7; Anal soft rays: 5-7. Characterized by having large melanophores inside the rays of the caudal fin; metamorphosed females have ethmoid region of the cranium extremely flattened dorsoventrally; deep and wide illicial trough, nasal foramina narrow and elongate; absence of symphysial spine of lower jaw; dentaries forming thick, broad, posteriorly directed flange immediately lateral to their union on the midline, ventral margin of lower jaw at symphysis concave when viewed anteriorly; short illicium of pterygiophore, posterior part broad and dorsoventrally flattened; metamorphosed females having wide ethmoid cartilage and vomer, width about equal to distance between anterolateral tips of lateral ethmoids and frontals; absence of vomerine teeth; short frontals, anterior end overhanging and extending past anterior limits of the ethmoid cartilage and vomer, convex dorsal margin; well developed first ray of dorsal fin; dorsal fin rays 6-7; anal fin rays 5-7; short and broad pectoral fin lobe, shorter than the longest rays of pectoral fin; pectoral fin rays 21-27; coracoid lacking posteroventral process; pelvic bones, simple and expanded distally; skin naked, without dermal spinules; darkly pigmented skin of caudal peduncle extends well past base of caudal fin; metamorphosed males have posterior nostril contiguous with the eye, nasal area is white and with 18 olfactory lamellae, 7-9 upper denticular teeth fused at bases and 4 lower denticular teeth (Ref. 86949). |
| Biology: |
Also mesopelagic. Males dwarfed and non-parasitic (Ref. 10524). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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