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A snaggletooth
Astronesthes psychrolutes (Gibbs & Weitzman, 1965)
Above and below: A 27cm standard length (glossary) 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). Photo: M. McGrouther © NORFANZ. View larger image.
A.psychrolutes has an elongate, slightly compressed (glossary) body that lacks scales. The dorsal fin origin is positioned well forward of the anal fin origin. A dorsal adipose fin (glossary) is present behind the dorsal fin. The caudal fin is forked.
This species has a large mouth with long pointed teeth. There is a barbel on the chin and two rows of photophores (glossary) 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).
A.psychrolutes is black with purplish luminous areas on the side of the body.
It grows to 28cm in standard length.
This species occurs in temperate mesopelagic (glossary) waters worldwide.
In Australia it is known from off South Australia.
Further reading
- 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.
- 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.
