Stareater (fish)

Genus of fishes From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Snaggletooths or stareaters are any of a number of small, deep-sea stomiid fish in the genus Astronesthes. They possess a bioluminescent red chin barbel that the fish use as a lure to attract small prey into striking distance.

Quick facts Scientific classification, Species ...
Stareater
Temporal range: ?Late Eocene to present
Astronesthes sp. (2008). The soft skin on this specimen was damaged by the net in which it was collected.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Stomiiformes
Family: Stomiidae
Subfamily: Astronesthinae
Genus: Astronesthes
J. Richardson, 1845
Species

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The fish have delicate skin, and mouths filled with sharp, needlelike, curved teeth.[1]

Species

There are currently 48 recognized species in this genus:[2]

The only potential fossil species of this genus is ?Astronesthes simus Arambourg, 1967 from the Late Eocene[3] or Early Oligocene-aged Pabdeh Formation of Iran. However, its taxonomic assignment to this genus is uncertain. Remains from the Middle Eocene of Georgia previously assigned to this genus are now placed in their own genus, Azemiolestes.[4][5]

References

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