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.
The fish have delicate skin, and mouths filled with sharp, needlelike, curved teeth.
Species
There are currently 48 recognized species in this genus:
- Astronesthes atlanticus <small>Parin & Borodulina, 1996</small>
- Astronesthes bilobatus <small>Parin & Borodulina, 1996</small> (Twinlobe snaggletooth)
- Astronesthes boulengeri <small>Gilchrist, 1902</small> (Boulenger's snaggletooth)
- Astronesthes caulophorus <small>Regan & Trewavas, 1929</small>
- Astronesthes chrysophekadion <small>(Bleeker, 1849)</small>
- Astronesthes cyaneus <small>(A. B. Brauer, 1902)</small>
- Astronesthes decoratus <small>Parin & Borodulina, 2002</small>
- Astronesthes dupliglandis <small>Parin & Borodulina, 1997</small>
- Astronesthes exsul <small>Parin & Borodulina, 2002</small> (Exile snaggletooth)
- Astronesthes fedorovi <small>Parin & Borodulina, 1994</small>
- Astronesthes formosana <small>Y. C. Liao, L. S. Chen & K. T. Shao, 2006</small>
- Astronesthes galapagensis <small>Parin, Borodulina & Hulley, 1999</small>
- Astronesthes gemmifer <small>Goode & T. H. Bean, 1896</small>
- Astronesthes gibbsi <small>Borodulina, 1992</small>
- Astronesthes gudrunae <small>Parin & Borodulina, 2002</small>
- Astronesthes haplophos <small>Parin & Borodulina, 2002</small>
- Astronesthes ijimai <small>S. Tanaka (I), 1908</small> (Ijima's snaggletooth)
- Astronesthes illuminatus <small>Parin, Borodulina & Hulley, 1999</small>
- Astronesthes indicus <small>A. B. Brauer, 1902</small> (Black snaggletooth)
- Astronesthes indopacificus <small>Parin & Borodulina, 1997</small> (Indo-Pacific snaggletooth)
- Astronesthes karsteni <small>Parin & Borodulina, 2002</small>
- Astronesthes kreffti <small>Gibbs & McKinney, 1988</small> (Krefft's snaggletooth)
- Astronesthes lamellosus <small>Goodyear & Gibbs, 1970</small>
- Astronesthes lampara <small>Parin & Borodulina, 1998</small>
- Astronesthes leucopogon <small>Regan & Trewavas, 1929</small>
- Astronesthes lucibucca <small>Parin & Borodulina, 1996</small>
- Astronesthes lucifer <small>C. H. Gilbert, 1905</small> (Pacific astronesthid fish)
- Astronesthes luetkeni <small>Regan & Trewavas, 1929</small>
- Astronesthes lupina <small>Whitley, 1941</small> (Little wolf)
- Astronesthes macropogon <small>Goodyear & Gibbs, 1970</small>
- Astronesthes martensii <small>Klunzinger, 1871</small>
- Astronesthes micropogon <small>Goodyear & Gibbs, 1970</small>
- Astronesthes neopogon <small>Regan & Trewavas, 1929</small>
- Astronesthes niger <small>J. Richardson, 1845</small>
- Astronesthes nigroides <small>Gibbs & Aron, 1960</small>
- Astronesthes oligoa <small>Parin & Borodulina, 2002</small>
- Astronesthes psychrolutes <small>(Gibbs & S. H. Weitzman, 1965)</small> (Temperate snaggletooth)
- Astronesthes quasiindicus <small>Parin & Borodulina, 1996</small>
- Astronesthes richardsoni <small>(Poey, 1852)</small> (Richardson's snaggletooth)
- Astronesthes similus <small>A. E. Parr, 1927</small>
- Astronesthes spatulifer <small>Gibbs & McKinney, 1988</small>
- Astronesthes splendidus <small>A. B. Brauer, 1902</small> (Splendid snaggletooth)
- Astronesthes tanibe <small>Parin & Borodulina, 2001</small>
- Astronesthes tatyanae <small>Parin & Borodulina, 1998</small>
- Astronesthes tchuvasovi <small>Parin & Borodulina, 1996</small>
- Astronesthes trifibulatus <small>Gibbs, Amaoka & Haruka, 1984</small> (Triplethread snaggletooth)
- Astronesthes zetgibbsi <small>Parin & Borodulina, 1997</small>
- Astronesthes zharovi <small>Parin & Borodulina, 1998</small>
The only potential fossil species of this genus is ?Astronesthes simus <small>Arambourg, 1967</small> from the Late Eocene 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.
References