Teleostei (teleosts) >
Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and dragonfishes) >
Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes) > Melanostomiinae
Etymology: Eustomias: Greek, eu = good + Greek, stoma = mouth (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 0 - 1800 m (Ref. 37039). Deep-water
Western Atlantic: off the Bahamas and in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 37039)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 20 - 25; Anal soft rays: 35 - 37. Body slender and elongate, color black; body depth 6.3-8.7% SL. Head length 13.3% SL. Lower jaw about equal to length of upper jaw and is not upturned at tip. Long, tapering, protrusible snout. Chin barbel long with a very long terminal bulb; 7.6-9.3% SL. Barbel with slender stem and an elongated terminal bulb with minute terminal filament. Bulb is 4.3-7% SL and 6 times longer than it is wide. Deep ventral groove absent. Pectoral fins free. Preorbital and suborbital luminous organs absent (Ref. 37039).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm, 1998. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. Volume 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. University of Texas Press, Austin. 1112p. (Ref. 37039)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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