Melanostomias valdiviae Brauer, 1902
Valdivia black dragon fish
Melanostomias valdiviae
photo by Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada

Family:  Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Melanostomiinae
Max. size:  24.1 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 40 - 1600 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: between 41°N and 28°N, one record at about 30°N, 18°W, and west of South Africa. Western Atlantic: between 41°N and 28°N, Gulf of Mexico, and south to 8°N; then between 10°S and 18°S. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Also Indian and Pacific oceans.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-16; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 17-19. Body elongate and moderately slender. Short, blunt and non-protrusible snout. Short chin barbel with short terminal expanded section. Black in color. Barbel is black, tip of barbel unpigmented (Ref. 37039).
Biology:  Also mesopelagic (Ref. 7300). Caught from deep water in the Hawaiian area.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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