Stoplight loosejaw: Difference between revisions
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| binomial_authority = [[William Orville Ayres|Ayres]], 1848 |
| binomial_authority = [[William Orville Ayres|Ayres]], 1848 |
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The '''stoplight loosejaw''', ''Malacosteus niger'', is a small [[abyssal]] [[fish]] of the |
The '''stoplight loosejaw''', ''Malacosteus niger'', is a small [[abyssal]] [[fish]] of the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Stomiidae]], found worldwide in tropical and subtropical oceans, at depths of between 500 and 2,000 [[metre|m]]. Its length is between 15 and 20 [[centimetre|cm]]. |
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The stoplight loosejaw has a blunt, almost vertical, forehead and a huge tooth-filled mouth capable of being greatly distended to swallow prey almost as large as the fish itself. The large eyes are set forward almost to the very front of the head. Each eye has a comma-shaped [[photophore]] beneath it that luminesces a deep red, and a circular bright green photophore behind it, evocative of |
The stoplight loosejaw has a blunt, almost vertical, forehead and a huge tooth-filled mouth capable of being greatly distended to swallow prey almost as large as the fish itself. The large eyes are set forward almost to the very front of the head. Each eye has a comma-shaped [[photophore]] beneath it that luminesces a deep red, and a circular bright green photophore behind it, evocative of [[traffic light]]s (hence the common name). Small [[dorsal fin|dorsal]] and [[anal fin]]s are set back along the narrow tapering body close to the small tail. |
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The skin is smooth and [[scale (zoology)|scale]]less, and the colour is a uniform black. |
The skin is smooth and [[scale (zoology)|scale]]less, and the colour is a uniform black. |
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* {{ITIS|ID=162269|taxon=Malacosteus niger|year=2006|date=18 April}} |
* {{ITIS|ID=162269|taxon=Malacosteus niger|year=2006|date=18 April}} |
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* {{FishBase species | genus = Malacosteus |species = niger | month = January | year = 2006}} |
* {{FishBase species | genus = Malacosteus |species = niger | month = January | year = 2006}} |
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*Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, ''Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand'', (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand [[1982]]) ISBN 0-00-216987-8 |
* Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, ''Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand'', (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand [[1982]]) ISBN 0-00-216987-8 |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Red-flashing+fish+have+chlorophyll+eyes.-a020909589 Red-flashing fish have chlorophyll eyes] |
* [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Red-flashing+fish+have+chlorophyll+eyes.-a020909589 Red-flashing fish have chlorophyll eyes] |
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[[Category:Stomiidae]] |
[[Category:Stomiidae]] |
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Revision as of 19:38, 21 June 2008
| Stoplight loosejaw | |
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| Species: | M. niger
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| Binomial name | |
| Malacosteus niger Ayres, 1848
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The stoplight loosejaw, Malacosteus niger, is a small abyssal fish of the family Stomiidae, found worldwide in tropical and subtropical oceans, at depths of between 500 and 2,000 m. Its length is between 15 and 20 cm.
The stoplight loosejaw has a blunt, almost vertical, forehead and a huge tooth-filled mouth capable of being greatly distended to swallow prey almost as large as the fish itself. The large eyes are set forward almost to the very front of the head. Each eye has a comma-shaped photophore beneath it that luminesces a deep red, and a circular bright green photophore behind it, evocative of traffic lights (hence the common name). Small dorsal and anal fins are set back along the narrow tapering body close to the small tail.
The skin is smooth and scaleless, and the colour is a uniform black.
References
- "Malacosteus niger". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 18 April.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Malacosteus niger" in FishBase. January 2006 version.
- Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8