Aristostomias Zugmayer, 1913
Body moderately long, its depth 4 or more times in SL. Head large, its length about 3-4 times in SL; snout longer than eye diameter, two nostrils on each side; chin barbel present. Dorsal finrays 21-26; anal finrays 24-32; pectoral finrays 4-17, often with lumps of luminous material; dorsal and anal fins partly covered by black skin; pelvic fins moderately long, 13-27% SL, not attached to body by a membrane. Serial photophores conspicuous; in ventral row from front of isthmus to tail 45-57, in lateral series to above anterior end of anal fin 29-38, the photophores either evenly spaced with few gaps or in widely spaced groups of 1-4; two rows of photophores on each side of isthmus; pre-orbital luminous organ absent; sub-orbital organ long, but narrow, its depth about 1 1/4 of its length; post-orbital organ spherical, close to eye; pale luminous spots or lines present on head.
See family for biology, etc.
Species 8; in Clofnam area 3.
Recent revisions: Goodyear (unpublished Ph.D. thesis, 1980).
Species of this genus in the program:
Aristostomias grimaldii
Aristostomias lunifer
Aristostomias tittmanni