Mesopelagic species . Pronounced sexual dimorphism: females are black, with well developed canine teeth, barbel and pelvic fins with six stripes. Males are dark-brown, have no teeth on maxilla and neither barbel nor pelvic fins . Apparently, females live below 500 m during the day and perform vertical migration at night to shallower depths; males always in deep water, ca 1,000-2,000 m .
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 55 - 63; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 37 - 42. Pelvic fins with 6 rays (females), absent in males.: elongated.
Behavioural data for Black dragonfish is currently being reviewed.
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 1239 - 2000 m . Deep-water; 25°S - 60°S found in sub-Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean.
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 40 records indexed .
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