| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Sternoptychidae | Polyipnus asteroides | Schultz | 1938 | Shortspine Hatchetfish |
All Polyipnus Species: Body laterally compressed, deep, greatest body depth 0.8 to 2.0 in Standard Length Exposed bony dorsal blade ahead of dorsal fin; iliac or postabdominal spines present. Eyes not tubular, directed laterally. PV photophores 10. Dorsal blade comprising 2 posteriorly-directed spines, reduced. BR photophores 6, IP 6.
Polyipnus asteroides
Unique Characteristics: Lateral pigment bar long and tapered, extending ventrally to lateral midline; overall pigmentation in preservative very dark, body-trunk myosepta with heavy concentrations of dark pigment; anal-fin pterygiophore spines short and basally expanded; ACA #3 elevation (relative to ACB #1) 6.9-7.9% SL; gill rakers 20-24.
Similar Species:
Polyipnus clarus, Slope Hatchetfish
Slope Hatchetfish, Polyipnus clarus. Lateral pigment bar short and triangular, extending ventrally less than half way to lateral midline; overall pigmentation in preservative pale, body-trunk myosepta diffusely delineated with dark pigment; anal-fin pterygiophore spines long and needlelike; ACA #3 elevation (relative to ACB #I) 4.9-6.6% SL; gill rakers 19-21.
References:
Baird, R.C. 1971. The systematics, distribution and zoogeography of the marine hatchetfishes (family Sternoptychidae). Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Harvard Univ., 142:1-128.
Harold, A.S. 1994. A taxonomic revision of the Sternoptychid genus Polypinus (Telesostei: Stomiiformes) with an analysis of the phylogenetic relationships. Bulletin of Marine Science, 54(2)428-534.
Schultz, L. P. 1938. Review of the fishes of the genera Polyipnus and Argyropelecus (Family Sternoptichidae), with descriptions of three new species. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 86 (no. 3047): 135-155.