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