Stomiidae is a

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

of deep-sea

ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fishes, is a class of bony fish. They comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. The ray-finned fishes are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or h ...

, including the barbeled dragonfishes. They are quite small, usually around 15 cm, up to 26 cm. These fish are apex predators and have enormous jaws filled with fang-like teeth. They are also able to hinge the neurocranium and upper-jaw system, which leads to the opening of the jaw to more than 100 degrees. This ability allows them to consume extremely large prey, often 50% greater than their standard length.

Features

It is one of the many species of deep-sea fish that can produce their own light through a chemical process known as

bioluminescence Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. It is a form of chemiluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some fungi, microorganisms including some ...

. A special organ known as a

photophore A photophore is a glandular organ that appears as luminous spots on various marine animals, including fish and cephalopods. The organ can be simple, or as complex as the human eye; equipped with lenses, shutters, color filters and reflectors, h ...

helps produce this light. The deep-sea dragonfishes have large heads, and mouths equipped with many sharp fang-like teeth. They have a long stringlike structure known as barbel, with a light-producing photophore at the tip, attached to their chin. They also have photophores attached along the sides of their body. A specific species of Stomiidae, the Chauliodus, cannot luminescence longer than 30 minutes without adrenaline. However, in presence of adrenaline, it can produce light for many hours. They produce blue-green light, the wavelengths of which can travel the farthest in the ocean. The deep-sea dragonfish waves its barbel back and forth and produces flashing lights on and off to attract prey and potential mates. Many of the species they prey upon also produce light themselves, which is why they have evolved to have black stomach walls to keep the lights concealed while digesting their meal in order to stay hidden from their predators.

Representative species gallery

File:Astronesthes niger.PNG, '' Astronesthes niger'' File:Bathophilus vaillanti.jpg, '' Bathophilus vaillanti'' File:Chauliodus danae.jpg, '' Chauliodus danae'' File:Echiostoma barbatum.jpg, ''

Echiostoma barbatum ''Echiostoma barbatum'', the Threadfin dragonfish, is a species of barbeled dragonfish and is the only known species in its genus. It is widespread through tropical to temperate waters in all oceans in mid to deep waters up to . This species grow ...

'' File:Eustomias trewavasae (no common name).gif, ''

Eustomias trewavasae ''Eustomias trewavasae'', the deepsea dragonfish, is a small abyssal barbeled dragonfish of the family Stomiidae, found worldwide in tropical and subtropical oceans at depths down to 1,500 m. Its length is up to TL. Named in honor of Ethelwynn ...

'' File:Grammatostomias dentatus.jpg, ''

Grammatostomias dentatus ''Grammatostomias'' is a genus of barbeled dragonfishes found in the Atlantic Ocean. Species There are currently 4 recognized species in this genus: * ''Grammatostomias circularis'' James Edwin Morrow Jr., Morrow, 1959 * ''Grammatostomias dentat ...

'' File:Idiacanthus atlanticus.jpg, '' Idiacanthus atlanticus'' File:Malacosteus niger (black).jpg, '' Malacosteus niger'' File:Melanostomias melanops.jpg, ''

Melanostomias melanops ''Melanostomias'' is a genus of barbeled dragonfishes. Species There are currently 16 recognized species in this genus: * '' Melanostomias bartonbeani'' A. E. Parr, 1927 (Scaleless black dragonfish) * '' Melanostomias biseriatus'' Regan & Trew ...

'' File:Neonesthes capensis (no common name).gif, ''

Neonesthes capensis ''Neonesthes capensis'', the Cape snaggletooth, is a lightfish of the family Stomiidae, found in all tropical and subtropical oceans except the north Pacific, at depths of between 70 and 1,500 meters. Its length is between 10 and 17 centimeters. ...

'' File:Opostomias micripnus.jpg, '' Opostomias micripnus'' File:Pachystomias microdon.jpg, ''

Pachystomias microdon ''Pachystomias microdon'', the smalltooth dragonfish, is a species of barbeled dragonfish Stomiidae is a family of deep-sea ray-finned fish, including the barbeled dragonfishes. They are quite small, usually around 15 cm, up to 26 ...

'' File:Photonectes gracilis.jpg, '' Photonectes gracilis'' File:Photostomias atrox.JPG, ''

Photostomias atrox ''Photostomias'' is a genus of barbeled dragonfish Stomiidae is a family of deep-sea ray-finned fish, including the barbeled dragonfishes. They are quite small, usually around 15 cm, up to 26 cm. These fish are apex predators and hav ...

'' File:Stneb u0.jpg, '' Stomias nebulosus''

References

External links

Science Alert">ScienceAlert, Science Alert
article with images and video*
Review of the Astronesthid Fishes

Malacosteus niger

The Deep Sea ocean biology

Science and the Sea, ''Dragonfish''

Stomiidae, Ray-finned fish families {{Stomiiformes-stub