Animal Species:Boa Scaly Dragonfish, Stomias boa (Risso, 1810)

The Scaly Dragonfish has a long, slender body covered with hexagonal scale-like skin. It is found in temperate marine waters of the southern hemisphere.

Alternative Name/s

Scaly Dragonfish

Identification

The Scaly Dragonfish has a long, slender body covered with hexagonal scale-like skin. There are two rows of photophores on the lower sides. The species has a small head with a distinctive chin barbel. The dorsal and anal fins are positioned opposite each other just anterior to the caudal fin.

Size range

The species grows to 32 cm in length.

Distribution

The Scaly Dragonfish occurs in temperate marine waters of the southern hemisphere. In Australia the species is known from off the central coast of New South Wales, around the temperate south of the country to south-western Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Stomias boa

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Boa Scaly Dragonfish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It occurs in bathypelagic and mesopelagic depths.

Classification

Species:
boa
Genus:
Stomias
Family:
Stomiidae
Order:
Stomiiformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Harold, A.S. 1999. Stomiidae. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 3. Batoid fishes, chimaeras and bony fishes part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae). FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-vi, 1398-2068.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Boa Scaly Dragonfish, Ichthyology, Stomias boa, Stomiidae, long and skinny, temperate waters, marine, southern hemisphere, Scaly Dragonfish, small head, chin barbel, 30 cm - 1 m, bathypelagic, mesopelagic,