Photostomias Collett, 1889
Diagnosis: body rather slender, its depth 8-20 times in SL. Head moderate, its length 4 1/3-6 1/4 times in SL; snout shorter than eye, two nostrils on each side; no chin barbel. Dorsal finrays 22-29; anal finrays 25-33: pectoral fins absent; dorsal and anal fins not partly covered by black skin; pelvic fins very long, 38-56% of SL, their innermost ray attached tc body by a membrane. Serial photophores conspicuous; in ventral row from front of isthmus to tail (IC) 55-60; in lateral series to above anterior end of anal fin (OA) 34-39, photophores in both rows evenly spaced; a single row of photophores on each side of isthmus. Pre-orbital luminous organ present; sub-orbital organ absent; post- orbital organ more or less triangular, longer than wide; no pale luminous spots or lines on head. Colour: head and body black; no pale spots or lines on head. Size: to about 13.5 cm.
Habitat, etc.: see family.
Distribution: northward to 45° N, 18° W. Elsewhere, Gulf of Mexico and probably across the North Atlantic between about 17° and 40° N.
Species 1.
Recent revisions: Goodyear (unpublished Ph.D. thesis, 1980).
Species of this genus in the program:
Photostomias guernei