Aristostomias polydactylus Regan & Trewavas, 1930
photo by Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada

Family:  Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes), subfamily: Malacosteinae
Max. size:  22 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 25 - 1100 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Western Sahara to Senegal and a single record at 2°S 19°W. Western Atlantic: USA to Argentina, including Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Indian Ocean: 5°N to 25°S. Western Pacific: South China Sea, and around Indo-Australian Archipelago; New Zealand (Ref. 5755). Eastern Pacific: 22°N-9°S between 160°W and 140°W.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22-25; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 26-30. Body moderately slender and elongate. Long, slender barbel bearing cylindrical bulb (Ref. 37039).
Biology:  Mesopelagic (Ref. 58302).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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