Teleostei (teleosts) >
Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and dragonfishes) >
Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes) > Astronesthinae
Etymology: Astronesthes: Greek, astra = ray + Greek, esthes, -es = suit, something used to wrap (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 120 - 800 m (Ref. 27684). Deep-water; 36°N - 20°S, 98°W - 154°W
Indo-West Pacific: northern Madagascar to adjacent waters of the Ogasawara Islands and adjacent waters of the Hawaiian Islands. Also reported from the Philippine Sea.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27684); 10.8 cm SL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 21; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 13 - 17; Vertebrae: 48 - 49. A large luminous patch on opercular bones. Body uniformly black; its color pink in fresh condition, but whitish when preserved. AC continuous, almost in a straight line. Serial photopores numerous. IV with a prominent bend toward pectoral base. Barbel about as long as head in males, but minute in females.
Mesopelagic (Ref. 58302).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Kailola, P.J., 1987. The fishes of Papua New Guinea. A revised and annotated checklist. Vol. 1. Myxinidae to Synbranchidae. Research Bulletin No. 41. Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. 194 p. (Ref. 6993)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 9.2 - 18.7, mean 12.9 °C (based on 269 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00417 (0.00171 - 0.01014), b=3.05 (2.83 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.8 ±0.6 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).