Boa dragonfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boa dragonfish |
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| Preserved Specimen | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Stomias
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| Species: |
boa
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| Synonyms | |
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Stomias boa, also known as the boa dragonfish, scaly dragonfish, dragon-boa or boa scaly dragonfish, is a species of deep-sea fish in the family Stomiidae.
Three subspecies were previously recognised:
- Stomias boa boa (A. Risso, 1810)
- Stomias boa colubrinus (Garman, 1899)
- Stomias boa ferox (J. C. H. Reinhardt, 1842)
These and two others have been elevated to species.
- Stomias boa boa (Risso, 1810) is now Stomias boa (Risso, 1810)
- Stomias boa colubrinus Garman, 1899 is now Stomias colubrinus Garman, 1899
- Stomias boa danae Ege, 1933 is now Stomias danae Ege, 1933
- Stomias boa ferox Reinhardt, 1842 is now Stomias ferox Reinhardt, 1842
- Stomias boa gracilis Garman, 1899 is now Stomias gracilis Garman, 1899
Description
Stomias boa has an elongated body and small head; it is up to 32.2 cm (1.06 ft) in length, black underneath and iridescent silver on its flanks, with a barbel that has a pale stem, dark spot at base of bulb and three blackish filaments. It has six rows of hexagonal areas above a lateral series of large photophores. The dorsal and anal fins are opposite each other, just anterior to the caudal fin.
Distribution and habitat
Stomias boa is mesopelagic and bathypelagic, living at depths of 200–2,173 m (656–7,129 ft) in seas worldwide, particularly off the Atlantic coast of North America, in the Mediterranean and in a band 20°–45° S. S. boa ferox is concentrated in the North Atlantic. S. boa colubrinus is most common off the Congo coast and the northwest coast of South America.
Diet
Stomias boa eats midwater fishes and crustaceans; it rises to near the surface to feed at night.
Reproduction
Stomias boa is oviparous; its larvae are 9–44 mm (0.35–1.73 in) in length.
