Boa Scaly Dragonfish, Stomias boa (Risso, 1810)

Scientific name: Stomias boa
Alternative name/s:
Scaly Dragonfish
Boa Scaly Dragonfish, Stomias boa Click to enlarge image
A 20cm long Boa Scaly Dragonfish trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between 1082m and 1120m in international waters south-east of Lord Howe Island, May 2003 (CSIRO H6053-03). Image: Kerryn Parkinson
© NORFANZ Founding Parties

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Stomias
    Species
    boa
    Family
    Stomiidae
    Order
    Stomiiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 32 cm in length.

Introduction

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.

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.

Habitat

It occurs in bathypelagic and mesopelagic depths.

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.

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.