Obese Dragonfish, Opostomias micripnus (Günther, 1878)

Scientific name: Opostomias micripnus

Author(s)

Mark McGrouther
Updated

06/04/21
Read time

2 minutes

Obese Dragonfish, <i>Opostomias micripnus </i> — An Obese Dragonfish trawled at a depth between the surface and 1470m, on the southern Norfolk Ridge, north-west of New Zealand, 28 May 2003. Image: Mark McGrouther
© NORFANZ Founding Parties

Fast Facts

Classification

Genus

Opostomias

Species

micripnus

Subfamily

Melanostomiinae

Family

Stomiidae

Order

Stomiiformes

Class

Actinopterygii

Subphylum

Vertebrata

Phylum

Chordata

Kingdom

Animalia
Size Range

It grows to at least 55 cm in length and is one of the largest species in the family Melanostomiidae.

Introduction

The Obese Dragonfish is a deepwater species that has large teeth and a long barbel. It occurs to depths of 5000 m, in the the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans

Identification

The Obese Dragonfish can be recognised by its scaleless, black body and large mouth with long fang-like teeth, the anterior-most in the lower jaw piercing the upper jaw. It has a chin barbel, photophores (light-producing organs) in rows along the body and a photophore behind and below both eyes. The dorsal fin is similar to the anal fin and located directly above it on the dorsal margin.

Obese Dragonfish, Opostomias micripnus — Head of an Obese Dragonfish trawled at a depth between the surface and 1470m, on the southern Norfolk Ridge, north-west of New Zealand, 28 May 2003. Image: Mark McGrouther
© NORFANZ Founding Parties

Habitat

The Obese Dragonfish is a deepwater pelagic species that occurs to depths of around 5000 m.

Distribution

The species occurs in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. In Australia it is known from New South Wales, Victoria and South 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.