Photonectes margarita (Goode & Bean, 1896)
photo by Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada

Family:  Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Melanostomiinae
Max. size:  39.6 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 700 - 5087 m
Distribution:  Circumglobal.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-18; Anal soft rays: 19-25; Vertebrae: 60-63. This species of the subgenus Trachinostomias is distinguished by the following characters: vertebrae 60-63 (as an exception, can be reduced to 58); photophores of series IV, 41-45; jaws with uniformly sized teeth; pectoral fin, usually 1 ray P (as an exception, 0 or 2); body with spots of white luminous tissue; mental barbel with a small bulb or even without it, but always with the developed appendages (Ref. 125184).
Biology:  Mesopelagic species (Ref. 559).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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