Valdivia Black Dragon Fish

barbel up to 6 1/4 times in SL in small specimens, but as little as 10 times in larger fishes, its stem black; tip of barbel unpigmented, flattened, fairly short and wide, with an opaque axis and two wings, each containing one or two spherical to long opaque bodies; one side of distal end tapering to form a short, pointed filament. Dorsal finrays 12–16 (usually 13–15). Photophores in ventral row between pectoral and pelvic fin insertions (PV) 24–28 (usually 25–26). Color of head and body black; no prominent round white spots on head.

southern part of the area to off Portugal. Elsewhere, across the North Atlantic between about 30° and 40° N, Gulf of Mexico, western Atlantic to about 8° N, and 10° to 40° S; Indian and Pacific Oceans.

To about 23 cm.

Body elongate and moderately slender. Short, blunt and non-protrusible snout. Short chin barbel with short terminal expanded section. Black in color. Barbel is black, tip of barbel unpigmented (Ref. 37039).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 16; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 17 - 19

Also mesopelagic (Ref. 7300). Caught from deep water in the Hawaiian area.

廣泛分布世界各大洋，屬於中表層魚類。棲息深度約20-400 公尺。

胸鰭條數：5; 腹鰭條數：7; 背鰭軟條數：12; 臀鰭軟條數：17; 發光器排列：IP 8+2, PV 24, VAV 12, AC 13, IC 59, OA 24=12=36; 眼後發光器明顯，長度略等於眼徑。下頷鬚長度略等於頭長，鬚柄呈深褐色，末端呈白色且明顯膨大，膨大區域具3 (1+2)個大型球狀構造及數個小球構造。身體呈暗褐色，眼後發光器新鮮標本呈橘紅色。

Melanostomias valdiviae is a species of dragonfish native to the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. This long and thin fish is bathypelagic, and can be found in depths of 40–1,600 m (130–5,250 ft). The species can grow up to 24.1 cm (9.5 in). It's hue is black and it has a dull snout.

between 41°N and 28°N, Gulf of Mexico, and south to 8°N; then between 10°S and 18°S

occasionally found in Canadian Atlantic waters; mesopelagic species; found at depths of 40- 160 m

nektonic