Subfamily Astronesthinae

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Introduction

Members of the Astronesthinae are known from meso- and bathypelagic waters in all major oceans, although smaller specimens have been caught at the surface at night. Sixty species in six genera have been recorded worldwide (Eschmeyer & Fong 2012; Nelson 2006; Nelso et al. 2016), with 19 species in five genera collected from Australian waters. Although not included here, Rhadinesthes decimus, has been recorded from east of Tasmania, just outside the Australian EEZ (41°00'S, 152°57'E). Harold (1999) treated the group as a distinct family, however, here we follow the classification of Nelson (1994), Nelson et al. (2016) and Wiley & Johnson (2010) in recognising the group as a subfamily of the Stomiidae.

Stareaters or snaggletooths are characterised by the presence of ventral photophores, body patches of luminous tissue in some species, a large mouth with elongate teeth, a chin barbel and the dorsal fin situated over the middle of the body. Food items include midwater fishes and crustaceans. Individuals may reach 21.5 cm in standard length.

Astronesthinae were reviewed by Gibbs (1964). The genus Astronesthes was revised in a series of papers culminating in the work of Parin & Borodulina (2002, 2003) in which the genus was stated to contain at least 47 valid species. The osteology and relationships of the family were detailed by Weitzman (1967). R.H. Gibbs of USNM kindly revised the previous account and re-identified specimens held in the Australian Museum. Kenaley et al. (2008) treated species found in southern Australia. Stewart and Kenaley (2015) treated many of the Australian species. Rhadinesthes decimus (Zugmayer, 1911), the Slender Snaggletooth (CAAB 37108021) is known from west of Tasmania and likely to occur within Australia.

 

General References

Eschmeyer, W.N. & Fong, J.D. 2012. Species of Fishes by family/subfamily. Catalog of Fishes. Online version updated 15 March 2012. http://research.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/SpeciesByFamily.asp

Gibbs, R.H. 1964. Family Astronesthidae. pp. 311-350 figs 77-91 in Olsen, Y.H. (ed.). Fishes of the western North Atlantic. Memoir. Sears Foundation of Marine Research 1(4): 1-599

Harold, A.S. 1999. Families Gonostomatidae, Sternoptychidae, Phosichthyidae, Astronesthidae, Stomiidae, Chauliodontidae, Melanostomiidae, Idiacanthidae, Malacosteidae. pp. 1896-1917 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068.

Kenaley, C.P., Harold, A.S. & Gomon, M.F. 2008. Family Stomiidae. pp. 240-254 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Kenaley, C.P., Harold, A.S. & Gomon, M.F. 2008. Family Stomiidae. pp. 240-254 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Nelson, J.S., Grande, T.C. & Wilson, M.V.H. 2016. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons 5, 752 pp.

Parin, N.V. & Borodulina, O.D. 2002. Preliminary review of species group Astronesthes niger (Astronesthidae, Stomiiformes) with a description of six new species from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Voprosy Ikhtiologii 42(4): 437-458 [in Russian, English translation in J. Ichthyol. 42(7): 495–515]

Parin, N.V. & Borodulina, O.D. 2003. Phylogeny, systematics, and zoogeography of the mesopelagic genus Astronesthes (Astronesthidae, Stomiiformes). Journal of Ichthyology 43(8): 557-576

Weitzman, S.H. 1967. The osteology and relationships of the Astronesthidae, a family of oceanic fishes. Dana Reports 71: 1-54 figs 1-31

Wiley, E.O. & Johnson, G.D. 2010. A teleost classification based on monophyletic groups. pp. 123-182 in Nelson, J.S., Schultze, H.-P. & Wilson, M.V.H. Origin and Phylogenetic Interrelationships of Teleosts. München, Germany : Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil 480 pp.

 

Common Name References

Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [254] (Bighead Dragonfishes, Snaggle-toothed Dragonfishes)

Harold, A.S. 1999. Families Gonostomatidae, Sternoptychidae, Phosichthyidae, Astronesthidae, Stomiidae, Chauliodontidae, Melanostomiidae, Idiacanthidae, Malacosteidae. pp. 1896-1917 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068. [1905] (FAO) (Snaggletooths, Stareaters)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
11-Sep-2020	STOMIIFORMES	09-Oct-2019	MODIFIED	Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM)
		12-Feb-2010	(import)