First record of deep-water barbeled dragonfish from Indian Ocean

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei Müller, 1845

Order: Stomiiformes Rosen, 1973

Family: Stomiidae Bleeker, 1859

Photonectes paxtoni Flynn & Klepadlo, 2012

Collection: SE Arabian Sea, east of Kadmat Island, Lakshadweep, 11.20°N, 72.98°E, 320 m, 11.10.2013 (FORVSS 320, St. 09), 45m Mid Water Trawl; SE Arabian Sea, west of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, 8.08°N, 76.40°E, 350 m, 07.10.2013 (FORVSS 320, St. 04), 45m Mid Water Trawl.

Voucher No.: CMLRE IO/SS/FIS/00570, IO/SS/FIS/00571

Description: Short barbel with a very enlarged ovoid terminal bulb without terminal appendages; no blue luminous tissue; reduced length of gill filaments on first branchial arch, less than arch depth; VAV photophores 15–16, AC photophores 13, IV photophores 29; bulb without filaments and remarkably large; IP photophores insert halfway along the isthmus, or with gap, no thick skin; Pectoral fins absent.

Biological association: None.

Remarks: First distributional record from Indian Ocean.

Distribution: Pacific Ocean near New Guinea and Southeastern Arabian Sea. Depth range: 130–350 m.

Distribution map:

Identified by: Rajeev R.

Publication: Rajeev R., Rajeeshkumar M.P., Cubelio S.S., Saravanane N. (2023) An updated checklist of Stomiiformes from Indian waters with nine new records. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 102: e95.

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