Author: Brauer, 1902
Melanostomias valdiviae Brauer, 1902
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Melanostomias valdiviae Brauer, 1902 (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: barbel up to 6 1/4 times in SL in small specimens, but as little as 10 times in larger fishes, its stem black; tip of barbel unpigmented, flattened, fairly short and wide, with an opaque axis and two wings, each containing one or two spherical to long opaque bodies; one side of distal end tapering to form a short, pointed filament. Dorsal finrays 12-16 (usually 13-15). Photophores in ventral row between pectoral and pelvic fin insertions (PV) 24-28 (usually 25-26). Colour: head and body black; no prominent round white spots on head. Size: to about 23 cm.
Habitat, etc.: see family.
Distribution: southern part of the area to off Portugal. Elsewhere, across the North Atlantic between about 30° and 40° N, Gulf of Mexico, western Atlantic to about 8° N, and 10° to 40° S; Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. No data.
Otoliths (sagitta). No data.