Gonostoma Rafinesque, 1810
Small or medium-sized deepwater fishes (about 60-280 mm in area); fairly elongate; mouth large, pseudobranch only weakly developed when present; branchiostegal rays 13-14 (4 on epihyal). Anal fin opposite or its origin a little in front of dorsal fin origin; dorsal adipose fin present in some; last dorsal and anal finrays split to base; anus nearer to anal origin than to pelvic base. Swimbladder capacious or regressed. Scales present or absent.
Photophores: absent on isthmus; SO and OA present, the latter ending at or near anal origin; BR 9-10 (11); AC less than 25; 3 or more VAV anterior to anus.
Oceanic, temperate-tropical, meso- or bathypelagic, often showing diurnal size depth relationship, the largest fishes deepest; post-larvae near surface, sinking slowly with development; some make diel vertical migrations, others not. Some species very common. Feeding on zooplankton. Most dioecious, but some protandrous hermaphrodites; post-larval photophore development protracted, sequential, OP 3 developing first.
Species 7; in Clofnam area 4.
Recent revisions: Mukhacheva (1972).
Species of this genus in the program:
Gonostoma atlanticum
Gonostoma bathyphilum
Gonostoma denudatum
Gonostoma elongatum