Grapevine dragonfish

📖 Overview

Grapevine dragonfish (Eustomias bulbornatus), first described by Gibbs, 1960 is a medium-sized fish in the family Stomiidae (order Stomiiformes). Adults typically reach 16.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 0 to 1050 metres. It occurs in Deep-water waters. Diet is predominantly piscivorous, targeting other fish and larger prey. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22 - 26; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 32 - 37. A single, very small terminal bulb 0.3-0.6% SL. Barbel short 20-35% SL in specimens over 8 cm and some smaller ones, shorter in some developing specimens up to about 8 cm. Three pairs of short filaments; each filament of 1 pair with a prominent, elongate distal bulblet that may be larger than the terminal bulb; a pair slender , with closely spaced very small bulblets; a pair simple, with few or no occlusions, and usually the longest. Axis of stem moderately pigmented, becoming darker before bulb and very dark over 1 side of bulb, where pigment forks and extends along axis of the pair of filaments with large bulblets. External chevron-shaped or roundish striated areas unpigmented. Dorsal paired spots between occiput and dorsal-fin origin 9 or 10 (rarely 7 or 8) .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Grapevine dragonfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 0 - 1050 m . Deep-water; 36°N - 35°S, 18°E - 137°W Southeast Atlantic: south and west of Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 26 records indexed .

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