Stareater (fish)

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Stareater
Astronesthes sp. (2008). The soft skin on this specimen was damaged by the net in which it was collected.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Stomiiformes
Family: Stomiidae
Subfamily: Astronesthinae
Genus: Astronesthes
J. Richardson, 1845
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[edit]

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

References[edit]

  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 Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2012). Species of Astronesthes in FishBase. February 2012 version.