Teleostei (teleosts) >
Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and dragonfishes) >
Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes) > Melanostomiinae
Etymology: Melanostomias: Greek, melan, -anos = black + Greek, stoma = mouth (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Both these species are named after the research vessel ‘Valdivia’ and the Valdivia expedition (1898–1899), Germany’s first expedition to explore deep seas. The holotypes were collected during the expedition. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 40 - 1600 m (Ref. 2732). Deep-water; 41°N - 49°S, 98°W - 154°W
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.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 24.1 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5951)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 16; Anal spines: 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).
Also mesopelagic (Ref. 7300). Caught from deep water in the Hawaiian area.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | 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: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 6.1 - 15.8, mean 9.9 °C (based on 965 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 (0.00116 - 0.00786), 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): 4.2 ±0.73 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (14 of 100).
