Stomiiformes is an order of deep-sea ray-finned fishes of very diverse morphology. It includes, for example, dragonfishes, lightfishes, loosejaws, marine hatchetfishes and viperfishes. The order contains 4 families with more than 50 genera and at least 410 species. As usual for deep-sea fishes, there are few common names for species of the order, but the Stomiiformes as a whole are often called dragonfishes and allies or simply stomiiforms.
A viperfish is any species of marine fish in the genus Chauliodus. Viperfishes are mostly found in the mesopelagic zone and are characterized by long, needle-like teeth and hinged lower jaws. A typical viperfish grows to lengths of 30 cm (12 in). Viperfishes undergo diel vertical migration and are found all around the world in tropical and temperate oceans. Viperfishes are capable of bioluminescence and possess photophores along the ventral side of their body, likely used to camouflage them by blending in with the less than 1% of light that reaches to below 200 meters depth.
Stomiidae is a family of deep-sea ray-finned fish, including the barbeled dragonfishes. They are quite small, usually around 15 cm, up to 26 cm. These fish are apex predators and have enormous jaws filled with fang-like teeth. They are also able to hinge the neurocranium and upper-jaw system, which leads to the opening of the jaw to more than 100 degrees. This ability allows them to consume extremely large prey, often 50% greater than their standard length.
Sloane's viperfish, Chauliodus sloani, is a predatory mesopelagic dragonfish found in waters across the world. The species was first described by German scientists Marcus Elieser Bloch and Johann Gottlob Schneider in their 1801 book Systema ichthyologiae: iconibus CX illustratum, volume 1. Female C. sloani reach maturity between 133 and 191 mm, while males likely reach maturity at slightly smaller body lengths. It has two rows of photophores along its ventral side. It is believed that C. sloani can adjust the intensity of bioluminescence of the ventral photophores to camouflage itself from predators that might see its shadow from below.
Scorpaena is a widespread genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes.
Eustomias schmidti, more commonly known as the scaleless dragonfish, is one of the many species included in the family of Stomiidae. Despite its small size, the scaleless dragonfish is a dangerous predator in the deep oceanic waters that uses its self-generated light to attract its prey.
Scaleless dragonfish may refer to:
Idiacanthus is a genus of barbeled dragonfishes, the larvae of which are noted for exhibiting the Stylophthalmine trait.
Melanostomias is a genus of barbeled dragonfishes.
Photonectes is a genus of fish in the family Stomiidae found in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean.
Stomias boa, also known as the boa dragonfish, scaly dragonfish, dragon-boa or boa scaly dragonfish, is a species of deep-sea fish in the family Stomiidae. It is found at great depths worldwide in tropical to temperate oceans but is absent from the northern Pacific and northwest Atlantic Oceans.
Opostomias micripnus, commonly known as the obese dragonfish, is a species of deep-sea ray-finned fish of the family Stomiidae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. The species was described in 1878 by Albert Günther.
The scaleless black dragonfish also known as the scaleless dragonfish is a species of ray-finned fish from the family Stomiidae. It's native to the Eastern, Western and Northwest Atlantic, as well as the Indian and Pacific oceans. The species is mesopelagic. It can be found in depths of 25 to 2,000 m.
Melanostomias globulifer, the brightchin dragonfish, is a species of fish native to the Western Pacific. It's a mesopelagic fish and is found in depths of 544 m (1,785 ft).
Melanostomias margaritifer is a species of fish from the family Stomiidae. The species occur in the Caribbean in the Northwest Atlantic. Its maximum length is around 8 cm (3.1 in) and its body is quite long. This pelagic-oceanic fish can be found 70 to 100 m below the water surface.
Melanostomias melanopogon is a species of fish from the family Stomiidae and the Stomiiformes order. The species can be found in the deep waters of the Eastern and Western Atlantic. It has a maximum length of 15.3 cm (6.0 in), and a long, slim body, dull snout and black scales.
Melanostomias niger, the fangtooth dragonfish, is a species of fish from the Melanostomias genus that is native to the Eastern Indian Ocean, Southeast Atlantic and Southwest Pacific. It measures up to 26 cm (10 in) in length, and has between 17 and 20 anal soft rays and 15 to 17 anal spines.
Melanostomias paucilaternatus, the spothead dragonfish, is a species of fish from the Melanostomias genus. It is found in the South Atlantic and the Indo-West Pacific in a depth of about 1,000 m (3,300 ft). It has a maximum length of 20.1 cm (7.9 in). It has 16 to 18 anal soft rays and 13 to 16 dorsal soft rays.
Melanostomias tentaculatus is a species of barbeled dragonfish. It occurs in the Eastern and Western Atlantic, as well as the Pacific and Indian oceans. In total, it has roughly 19–20 anal and 16–17 dorsal soft rays. Along with its long, slim body, it has a dull snout and a maximum length of 24 cm (9.4 in). They also inhabit waters at depths of 30–950 m (98–3,117 ft).
