Teleostei (teleosts) >
Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and dragonfishes) >
Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes) > Astronesthinae
Etymology: Heterophotus: Greek, heteros = other + Greek, photos = light (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Regan & Trewavas.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 790 - 1420 m (Ref. 58302). Deep-water; 55°N - 40°S, 85°W - 125°W
Eastern Atlantic: Western Sahara south to Namibia, not recorded close to the coast. Western Atlantic: Bermuda south to Brazil including Caribbean Sea and the southern Subtropical Convergence. Also, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 35.6 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4465)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 17. Teeth on jaws very short, spine-like; photopores of ventral row excluding AC series arranged in discontinuous, close-set groups of 1 to 5 (Ref. 559). Barbel shorter than head, dark stem, flattened and tapering tip (Ref. 37473). Black in color (Ref. 37039).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated; Cross section: compressed.
Meso- and bathypelagic (Ref. 58302).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Gibbs, R.H. Jr., 1990. Astronesthidae. p. 300-307. 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. 4465)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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