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 - 550 m (Ref. 11333). Tropical; 10°N - 6°S
Eastern and Western Atlantic: one record at 4°N 21°W; between 52°W-27°W from 20°N to 6°S.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 12.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 11333); 12.5 cm SL (female)
Dorsal soft rays (total): 25; Anal soft rays: 38; Vertebrae: 68. Two terminal bulbs separated by a short interspace, 0.4-1.6 times the length of distal bulb. Barbel length short 37-44% SL in specimens over 8 cm SL. Three to 9 short, usually bulblet-tipped filaments and 2 long ones, arising together from distal end of distal bulb or from a short stem. Longest filament becoming 23-35% SL in specimens larger than 8 cm; 1 long filament with a prominent large bulblet. Distal bulb 1.2-2.5 times length of proximal-bulb. Axis of stem well pigmented; between bulbs variably pigmented, sometimes forming a dark spot or small cap at proximal end of distal bulb. External chevron-shaped or roundish striated areas usually unpigmented. Middorsal paired spots between occiput and dorsal-fin origin 8 (Ref. 11333).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Gibbs, R.H. and M.A. Barnett, 1990. Melanostomiidae. p. 308-337. 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. 4468)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 13.4 - 26.2, mean 20.3 °C (based on 6 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00302 (0.00117 - 0.00783), b=3.12 (2.89 - 3.35), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.1 ±0.8 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).