| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Stomiidae | Chirostomias pliopterus | Regan & Trewavas | 1930 | Adipose Dragonfish |
Family Melanostomiidae (genera Bathophilus, Chirostomias, Echiostoma, Eustomias, Flagellostomias, Gramatostomias, Leptostomias, Melantostomias, Pachystomias, and Photonectes) – Small, oblique denticles posteriorly on maxilla. Chin barbel present; ranging widely in length, with or without branches or terminal elaborations. Dorsal fin located well posteriorly, directly above anal fin; dorsal adipose fin absent (except in Chirostomias). Suborbital photophore absent; postorbital photophore usually present, located posteroventrally to eye, sometimes reduced or absent in females (FAO 2002).
Chirostomias pliopterus
Unique Characteristics: Body without scales or hexagonal scale pockets. Dorsal and anal fins located near caudal fin. Dorsal and anal-fin bases approximately equal, or anal-fin base longer than dorsal. Mouth with floor, lower jaws connected by membrane. Dorsal adipose-fin present. Stem of barbel black or dark brown, basal portion of bulb black, terminal luminous portion and filaments yellowish; body color black, with greenish or bluish bronze iridescence on anterior parts of sides (FAO 2020).
Similar Species: None
References:
FAO. 2002. The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volumes 1-3. K.E. Carpenter (ed.). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy. 4099 pp. http://www.fao.org/3/y4160e/y4160e00.htm.
(FAO 2020) Sutton, T.T., P.A. Hulley, R. Wienerroither, D. Zaera-Perez, and J.R. Paxton. 2020. Identification guide to the mesopelagic fishes of the central and south east Atlantic Ocean. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. Rome, FAO. 327 pp. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb0365en.