Tentacle dragonfish (Melanostomias tentaculatus) fish species and information / pictures of Tentacle dragonfish - Melanostomias tentaculatus

Tentacle dragonfish (Melanostomias tentaculatus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Melanostomias tentaculatus

Common Name
Tentacle dragonfish

Biology
Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-17; Anal soft rays: 19 - 20. Body elongate and moderately slender. Short, blunt, non-protrusible snout. Long chin barbel bearing a nonterminal bulb. Barbel stem black, bulb and tentacle unpigmented (Ref. 37039).

Classification

Classified By

Regan & Trewavas, 1930

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Lightfishes and Dragonfishes (Stomiiformes)

Family

Barbeled dragonfishes (Stomiidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Madeira to Angola, but not known between Mauritania and Guinea. Western Atlantic: USA to Brazil including the Gulf of Mexico. Also known from the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Range

45°N - 49°S, 98°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

30 m

Depth To - meters

950 m

Zone

bathyalpelagic

Environment

Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 30 - 950 m (Ref. 2732)

Trophic Level

4.2 s.e. 0.73 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

24.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (35 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated