Polymixia melanostoma
Polymixia melanostoma Fan, Su, Lin, Chang & Lin, 2024
Black-mouth beardfish

Family:  Polymixiidae (Beardfishes)
Max. size:  15.3 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 765 - 778 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Taiwan and New Caledonia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 4-5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 35-37; Anal spines: 4-4; Anal soft rays: 14-16; Vertebrae: 29-29. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: D IV-V,35-37; gill rakers on the outer face of first gill arch 3+1+6=10; scales row between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line vertically 6-8 and posteriorly 12-14; pyloric caeca 40; snout is rounded, with the surface rough and gelatinous, its tip evidently protrude anterior margin of premaxilla; ctenii on body scales arranged in wedge shape, forming three rows; fourth anal-fin spine long, 1.0-1.2 in eye diameter; dorsal-fin is long, 49.6-53.0% SL; oral-branchial cavity, not including the underside of tongue, black (Ref. 132970).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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