Temperate Snaggletooth, Astronesthes psychrolutes (Gibbs & Weitzman, 1965)

Scientific name: Astronesthes psychrolutes
Temperate Snaggletooth, <i>Astronesthes psychrolutes</i> Click to enlarge image
A 27cm standard length. A.psychrolutes specimen trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between the surface and 1275m in international waters south of Norfolk Island, May 2003 (AMS I.42700-001). Image: Mark McGrouther
© NORFANZ Founding Parties

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Astronesthes
    Species
    psychrolutes
    Subfamily
    Astronesthinae
    Family
    Stomiidae
    Order
    Stomiiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 28 cm in standard length.

Introduction

Astronesthes psychrolutes lacks scales and has a large mouth with long pointed teeth. It occurs in temperate mesopelagic waters worldwide

Identification

The Temperate Snaggletooth has an elongate, slightly compressed body that lacks scales. The dorsal fin origin is positioned well forward of the anal fin origin. A dorsal adipose fin is present behind the dorsal fin. The caudal fin is forked.

The species has a large mouth with long pointed teeth. There is a barbel on the chin and two rows of photophores on the lower side of the body. There is a small photophore below the front of the eye (suborbital photophore) and a larger one below the rear of the eye (the postorbital photophore). It is black with purplish luminous areas on the side of the body.

Distribution

This species occurs in temperate mesopelagic waters worldwide. In Australia it is known from off 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.

References

  1. Gibbs, R.H. & J.F. McKinney, 1988. High-count species of the Stomiid fish genus Astronesthes from the Southern Subtropical Convergence Region: Two new species and redescription of Cryptostomias (= Astronesthes) psychrolutes. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology Number 460: 1-25.
  2. Harold, A.S. 1999. Astronesthidae. 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.