Astronesthes sp. (2008)

Taxobox
name = Stareater


image_caption = "Astronesthes sp." (2008). The soft skin on this specimen was damaged by the net in which it was collected.
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
infraphylum = Gnathostomata
classis = Osteichthyes
subclassis = Neopterygii
ordo = Stomiiformes
familia = Stomiidae
genus = Astronesthes
species = "A. sp." (2008)
binomial = "Astronesthes sp." (2008)
binomial_authority =

"Astronesthes sp." (2008) is a stareater from the depths of the Antarctic Ocean south of New Zealand. It attracts small prey using the glowing red tip of a long black barbel on its chin as a lure.

The fish grows to a length of 21cm. The mouth of the fish is filled with sharp, needlelike, curved teeth. The skin is delicate, and when trapped in a net, scientists abrased a specimen's skin retrieving it. Lining the belly of the stareater are tiny black dots, which serve as a type of light organ. Whether these produce or sense light remains unclear in Andrew Stewart's description.

References

Stewart, Andrew. "Science report: Denizens of the deep: daggertooth and stareater." "NZ IPY-CAML Voyage 2008." 2008. "Ministry of Fisheries." Crown Copyright: 2008. http://www.fish.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/7CF525AF-2985-4152-B225-28E52E389F3B/0/IPYdiary10.pdf.