Astronesthes richardsoni (Poey, 1852)

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 : 33-34

Astronesthes richardsoni (Poey, 1852)

( Fig. 8D )

Diagnosis. Astronesthes richardsoni differs from congeners by the pelvic-fin origin well in advance of the dorsal-fin origin; anal-fin base approximately equal to dorsal-fin base; IV series in a linear row; IC 55–60; PV 15–17; OV 14–16; OA 33–37; 2–3 palatine teeth; postorbital luminous organ small; a ring of luminous spots on the cheek; chin barbel without terminal bulb (Parin, Borodulina, 2000, 2003; Sutton et al., 2020).

Geographical distribution. Atlantic Ocean, between 60ºN and 30ºS (Gibbs, 1990a; Parin, Borodulina, 2000; Afonso et al., 2018; 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 (Gibbs, 1990a; McEachran, Fechhelm, 1998; Parin, Borodulina, 2000; Harold, 2003; Coad, 2018b). In Brazil, A. richardsoni was reported from off Maranhão and Rio Grande do Norte States, and off Fernando de Noronha and Saint Peter and Saint Paul archipelagos. Additional records in the western South Atlantic are known outside the Brazilian EEZ (Parin et al., 1974; Gibbs, 1990a; Parin, Borodulina, 2000, 2003; Judkins, Haedrich, 2018; Sutton et al., 2020). Astronesthes richardsoni is reported here based on specimens collected off Rio Grande do Norte State, the Rocas Atoll, and the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, between depths of 25 and 800 m ( Fig. 7B ).

Specimens examined. 10 (22–132 mm SL): NPM 3194, 2 (49–71 mm), AB1#9; NPM 4800, 1 (132 mm), AB2#39; NPM 4801, 1 (122 mm), AB2#53A; NPM 4805, 1 (31 mm), AB2#41B; NPM 4812, 2 (91–111 mm), AB2#42A; NPM 4813, 1 (22 mm), AB2#39; NPM 4814, 1 (31 mm), AB2#40A.

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.