Echiostoma barbatum

Echiostoma barbatum, Threadfin Dragonfish. Source: FAO 2020.
Echiostoma barbatum, Threadfin Dragonfish. Source: FAO 2020.
FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
StomiidaeEchiostoma barbatumLowe1843Threadfin 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).

Melanostomiidae, Scaleless Dragonfishes. Source: FAO 2002.
Melanostomiidae, Scaleless Dragonfishes. Source: FAO 2002.

Echiostoma barbatum

Unique Characteristics: Body without scales or hexagonal scale pockets. Dorsal and anal fins located near caudal fin; dorsal adipose fin absent. Dorsal and anal-fin bases approximately equal. Mouth with floor, lower jaws connected by membrane. Anal-fin base about equal to dorsal-fin base, its origin opposite to dorsal-fin origin. First mandibular tooth not piercing premaxillary. Pelvic-fin insertion near ventral midline. PO and SUO photophores absent, PTO photophore present. No line or loop of luminous tissue on each side of flank. Lower jaw length about equal to upper jaw, not projecting beyond upper, and not curved upwards (Fig. 17). Pectoral-fin rays 3-1; pectoral fins with 1 long ray separated from shorter rays; a single long pectoral-fin ray separated from 3 shorter rays; end of isolated ray unbranched (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.