Astronesthes gemmifer Goode & Bean, 1896

Villarins, Bárbara T., Dario, Fabio Di, Eduardo, Leandro N., Lucena-Frédou, Flávia, Bertrand, Arnaud, Prokofiev, Artem M. & Mincarone, Michael M., 2022, Deep-sea dragonfishes (Teleostei: Stomiiformes) collected from off northeastern Brazil, with a review of the species reported from the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone, Neotropical Ichthyology (e 220004) 20 (2), pp. 1-78 : 31-33

Astronesthes gemmifer Goode & Bean, 1896

( Fig. 8B )

Diagnosis. Astronesthes gemmifer differs from congeners by the presence of four fangs and two additional teeth on the premaxilla; serial photophores closely spaced; last 5–6 VAL and VAV above anal-fin base; IV forming an arch below the pectoral-fin base; IC 62–70; OA 42–48; posterior part of elongated terminal bulb of chin barbel black ventrally (Parin, Borodulina, 2000, 2003; Sutton et al., 2020).

Geographical distribution. Atlantic, Indian, and central Pacific oceans, between 62ºN and 40ºS (Gibbs, 1990a; Parin, Borodulina, 2003; Sutton et al., 2020). In the western Atlantic, the species was reported from off Canada to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea (McAllister, 1990; McEachran, Fechhelm, 1998; Parin, Borodulina, 2000; Harold, 2003; Menezes et al., 2003). In Brazil, A. gemmifer was reported off Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, with additional records outside the Brazilian EEZ off Rio Grande do Sul State (Parin, Borodulina, 2000; Judkins, Haedrich, 2018; Sutton et al., 2020). Astronesthes gemmifer is reported here based on one specimen collected off Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, at 430 m depth ( Fig. 7B ).

Specimen examined. 1: NPM 4799, 1 (146 mm), AB2#41A.

Figures

FIGURE 7 | Records of species of Phosichthyidae (A), Astronesthinae (B, C), Chauliodontinae (D), Stomiinae (E), and Malacosteinae (F) collected during the ABRACOS expeditions off northeastern Brazil. Oceanic islands: RA, Rocas Atoll; FN, Fernando de Noronha Archipelago.

FIGURE 8 | A. Astronesthes atlantica, NPM 4019, 32 mm SL; B. Astronesthes gemmifer, NPM 4799, 146 mm SL; C. Astronesthes gudrunae, NPM 4802, 111 mm SL; D. Astronesthes richardsoni, NPM 3194, 71 mm SL; E. Astronesthes similus, NPM 4811, 75 mm SL. Scale bars = 10 mm.