Stareater (fish)

Snaggletooth
Astronesthes sp. (2008). The soft skin on this specimen was damaged by the net in which it was collected.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Osteichthyes
Subclass: Neopterygii
Order: Stomiiformes
Family: Stomiidae
Genus: Astronesthes
Species

See text

Snaggletooths or stareaters are any of a number of small, deep-sea stomiid fish in the genus Astronesthes. They possess a bioluminescent red chin barbel that the fish use as a lure to attract small prey into striking distance.

The fish have delicate skin, and mouths filled with sharp, needlelike, curved teeth.[1]

Species

There are currently 48 recognized species in this genus:[2]

References

  1. Stewart, Andrew. "Science report: Denizens of the deep: daggertooth and stareater." NZ IPY-CAML Voyage 2008. 2008. Ministry of Fisheries. Crown Copyright: 2008. http://www.fish.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/7CF525AF-2985-4152-B225-28E52E389F3B/0/IPYdiary10.pdf
  2. Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2012). Species of Astronesthes in FishBase. February 2012 version.


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