Astronesthes niger, commonly known as snaggletooth, is a species of small, deep sea fish in the familyStomiidae. It occurs in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean, at depths to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
Astronesthes niger is a slender, somewhat elongate, black fish with a large mouth, fang-like teeth, and a long barbel on its chin tipped by a knob. This fish grows to a maximum length of about 16 cm (6.3 in) and can be distinguished from other closely related species by its snout lacking a turned up tip, by the barbel being less than 1.7 times the length of the head, and by the swollen portion on the barbel being one third to one half its length. The dorsal fin has 15 to 17 soft rays and is set slightly behind the pelvic fins. There is a ventral adipose fin in front of the anus, and the anal fin has 12 to 15 soft rays. There are two longitudinal rows of photophores on either flank and there are luminous patches in front of the eye, above the nostrils, above the eye, and a large patch above the pectoral fin.[2]
Distribution and habitatedit
The species is found in the mesopelagic zone of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between about 40°N and the equator.[2] It is also present in the western Pacific and the Indian Oceans.[3] Although its depth range extends to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft), at night it is most abundant at less than about 100 m (300 ft).[2]
Ecologyedit
Astronesthes niger is a predator and feeds on krill, amphipods and lanternfishes.[2] It appears to only rise to the very top layer of the water column when both the sun and moon are below the horizon, at about the periods of the month when the moon is in its first or third quarter phase; it appears that the fish needs the moon for its vertical migrations but avoids the surface when it is illuminated.[4] Little is known about the reproduction of this fish and the development of its larvae.[3]
^ abcdMcEachran, John; Fechhelm, Janice D. (2013). Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico, Vol. 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. University of Texas Press. p. 83. ISBN978-0-292-75705-9.
^ ab"Astronesthes niger". Fishes of the NE Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Marine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
^John, Hans-Christian (1978). "Solar and lunar rhythms in the occurrence of Astronesthes niger (Pisces) at the sea surface". Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research. 9 (3): 169–177. doi:10.1080/09291017809359635.
January 01, 1970
astronesthes, niger, commonly, known, snaggletooth, species, small, deep, fish, family, stomiidae, occurs, tropical, subtropical, atlantic, ocean, caribbean, gulf, mexico, well, indian, ocean, western, pacific, ocean, depths, scientific, classification, domain. Astronesthes niger commonly known as snaggletooth is a species of small deep sea fish in the family Stomiidae It occurs in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico as well as the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean at depths to 1 000 m 3 300 ft Astronesthes niger Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Stomiiformes Family Stomiidae Genus Astronesthes Species A niger Binomial name Astronesthes nigerRichardson 1845 1 Synonyms 1 Astronesthes nigraRichardson 1845 Chauliodus fieldii Valenciennes 1846 Stomias fieldiiValenciennes 1846 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 ReferencesDescription editAstronesthes niger is a slender somewhat elongate black fish with a large mouth fang like teeth and a long barbel on its chin tipped by a knob This fish grows to a maximum length of about 16 cm 6 3 in and can be distinguished from other closely related species by its snout lacking a turned up tip by the barbel being less than 1 7 times the length of the head and by the swollen portion on the barbel being one third to one half its length The dorsal fin has 15 to 17 soft rays and is set slightly behind the pelvic fins There is a ventral adipose fin in front of the anus and the anal fin has 12 to 15 soft rays There are two longitudinal rows of photophores on either flank and there are luminous patches in front of the eye above the nostrils above the eye and a large patch above the pectoral fin 2 Distribution and habitat editThe species is found in the mesopelagic zone of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico between about 40 N and the equator 2 It is also present in the western Pacific and the Indian Oceans 3 Although its depth range extends to about 1 000 m 3 300 ft at night it is most abundant at less than about 100 m 300 ft 2 Ecology editAstronesthes niger is a predator and feeds on krill amphipods and lanternfishes 2 It appears to only rise to the very top layer of the water column when both the sun and moon are below the horizon at about the periods of the month when the moon is in its first or third quarter phase it appears that the fish needs the moon for its vertical migrations but avoids the surface when it is illuminated 4 Little is known about the reproduction of this fish and the development of its larvae 3 References edit a b Bailly Nicolas 2015 Astronesthes niger Richardson 1845 WoRMS World Register of Marine Species Retrieved 19 March 2016 a b c d McEachran John Fechhelm Janice D 2013 Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico Vol 1 Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes University of Texas Press p 83 ISBN 978 0 292 75705 9 a b Astronesthes niger Fishes of the NE Atlantic and the Mediterranean Marine Species Identification Portal Retrieved 20 March 2016 John Hans Christian 1978 Solar and lunar rhythms in the occurrence of Astronesthes niger Pisces at the sea surface Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research 9 3 169 177 doi 10 1080 09291017809359635 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Astronesthes niger amp oldid 1118543032, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
