Astronesthes richardsoni, or Richardson's snaggletooth, is a species of small, deep sea fish in the familyStomiidae. It occurs in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. First described by the Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey in 1852, it was named Chauliodus richardsoni in honour of the Scottish explorer and naturalist John Richardson. It was later transferred to the genus Astronesthes.
Richardson's snaggletooth is a slender, laterally-compressed fish with a short snout, a terminal, horizontal mouth and large fang-like teeth. The teeth on the maxillae are backwards-pointing and comb-like. The long barbel on the chin is ribbon-like and lacks a bulb or swelling at its tip. The dorsal fin has 12 to 14 soft rays and the anal fin has 13 to 18. The origin of the dorsal fin is behind the insertion of the pelvic fins. There is a dorsal adipose fin anterior to the caudal peduncle, and a small ventral adipose fin just anterior to the anus. There are two rows of photophores (luminous spots) on each side of the underside of the fish, numerous other photophores on the head and body and a luminous patch on the edge of the preoperculum; the colour of this fish is black and the maximum standard length is 145 mm (5.7 in).[2][3]
Distribution and habitatedit
The species is found in the mesopelagic zone of the tropical western Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Although its depth range extends to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft), it is most abundant above about 300 m (1,000 ft).[2]
Ecologyedit
As a predator, Richardson's snaggletooth feeds on other fish and on krill.[2]
^ abcMcEachran, John; Fechhelm, Janice D. (2013). Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico, Vol. 1: Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes. University of Texas Press. p. 84. ISBN978-0-292-75705-9.
^Smith, Margaret M.; Heemstra, Phillip C. (2012). Smiths’ Sea Fishes. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 231. ISBN978-3-642-82858-4.
April 11, 2024
astronesthes, richardsoni, richardson, snaggletooth, species, small, deep, fish, family, stomiidae, occurs, tropical, western, atlantic, ocean, caribbean, gulf, mexico, first, described, cuban, zoologist, felipe, poey, 1852, named, chauliodus, richardsoni, hon. Astronesthes richardsoni or Richardson s snaggletooth is a species of small deep sea fish in the family Stomiidae It occurs in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico First described by the Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey in 1852 it was named Chauliodus richardsoni in honour of the Scottish explorer and naturalist John Richardson It was later transferred to the genus Astronesthes Astronesthes richardsoniScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ActinopterygiiOrder StomiiformesFamily StomiidaeGenus AstronesthesSpecies A richardsoniBinomial nameAstronesthes richardsoniPoey 1852 1 Synonyms 1 Astronesthes filiferRegan amp Trewavas 1929 Astronesthes oculatusRegan amp Trewavas 1929 Astronesthes richardsonii Poey 1852 Chauliodus richardsoniPoey 1852 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 ReferencesDescription editRichardson s snaggletooth is a slender laterally compressed fish with a short snout a terminal horizontal mouth and large fang like teeth The teeth on the maxillae are backwards pointing and comb like The long barbel on the chin is ribbon like and lacks a bulb or swelling at its tip The dorsal fin has 12 to 14 soft rays and the anal fin has 13 to 18 The origin of the dorsal fin is behind the insertion of the pelvic fins There is a dorsal adipose fin anterior to the caudal peduncle and a small ventral adipose fin just anterior to the anus There are two rows of photophores luminous spots on each side of the underside of the fish numerous other photophores on the head and body and a luminous patch on the edge of the preoperculum the colour of this fish is black and the maximum standard length is 145 mm 5 7 in 2 3 Distribution and habitat editThe species is found in the mesopelagic zone of the tropical western Atlantic the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Gulf of Mexico Although its depth range extends to about 1 000 m 3 300 ft it is most abundant above about 300 m 1 000 ft 2 Ecology editAs a predator Richardson s snaggletooth feeds on other fish and on krill 2 References edit a b Bailly Nicolas 2015 Astronesthes richardsoni Poey 1852 WoRMS World Register of Marine Species Retrieved 8 March 2016 a b c McEachran John Fechhelm Janice D 2013 Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico Vol 1 Myxiniformes to Gasterosteiformes University of Texas Press p 84 ISBN 978 0 292 75705 9 Smith Margaret M Heemstra Phillip C 2012 Smiths Sea Fishes Springer Science amp Business Media p 231 ISBN 978 3 642 82858 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Astronesthes richardsoni amp oldid 1065533868, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
