Idiacanthus antrostomus

Idiacanthus antrostomus, also known as the Pacific blackdragon or black sea dragon, is a species of barbeled dragonfish (Stomiidae) inhabiting the Pacific Ocean.

Idiacanthus antrostomus
Full body view of Idiacanthus antrostomus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Division: Teleostei
Order: Stomiiformes
Family: Stomiidae
Genus: Idiacanthus
Species:
I. antrostomus
Binomial name
Idiacanthus antrostomus

Overview

Side profile view of Idiacanthus antrostomus

This fish is noted for having ultrablack skin, similar to pigments like Vantablack, which is accomplished through tightly packed melanosomes that allow its skin to absorb 99.95% of common light wavelengths in its habitat.[3][4] There are four groups of photophores located on the abdomen and extending down to the tail.[5] The suborbital photophores are interpreted to support close-range prey detection due to their location on the body.[6] Idiacanthus antrostomus also has a glowing chin barbell, which is thought to be used to attract prey.[7]

Another notable feature of the Idiacanthus antrostomus is its straight notocordal sheath, a straight tube connecting the skull to the first vertebrae. In simple terms, the fish's head is not connected to the spine by a flexible joint.[8]

Habitat

It has been found at depths between 500 m (1,600 ft) and 2,000 m (6,600 ft)[9] along the West Coast of the United States and in the Gulf of Mexico.[3][10] The Pacific blackdragon also has been found to take part in DVM to feed on small fish and crustaceans.[11]

Sensory System

Idiacanthus antrostomus has an extensive Lateral line system composed of superficial neuromasts. It has 214 located on its head followed by an approximation of 2000 distributed along its elongated trunk. The number is an approximation as sampling was done on a specimen with slight epidermal damage. These allow it to sense vibrations and movement in the surrounding waters.[6]

Reproduction

Little is known about reproduction in Idiacanthus antrostomus, however, based on studies of other stomiids, it is likely an oviparous, gonochoristic batch spawner with asynchronous oocyte development.[12] The fish is also thought to have high sexual dimorphism, with small larvoid males and larger females.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Williams, A. (2020). "Idiacanthus antrostomus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T137563977A137564125. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T137563977A137564125.en. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Bailly, Nicolas (2008). "Idiacanthus antrostomus Gilbert, 1890". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species.
  3. 1 2 "How some superblack fish disappear into the darkness of the deep sea". Science News. 2020-07-16. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  4. ↑ Davis, Alexander L.; Thomas, Kate N.; Goetz, Freya E.; Robison, Bruce H.; Johnsen, Sönke; Osborn, Karen J. (2020-09-07). "Ultra-black Camouflage in Deep-Sea Fishes". Current Biology. 30 (17): 3470–3476.e3. Bibcode:2020CBio...30E3470D. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.044. ISSN 0960-9822. PMID 32679102. S2CID 220575700.
  5. ↑ Gilbert, Charles (1889). "Scientific Results of Explorations by the U.S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross" (PDF). Proceedings of the United States National Museum: 6 – via Biostor.
  6. 1 2 Marranzino, Ashley N; Webb, Jacqueline F (2018-01-15). "Flow sensing in the deep sea: the lateral line system of stomiiform fishes". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 183 (4): 945–965. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx090. ISSN 0024-4082.
  7. ↑ www.montereybayaquarium.org https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/pacific-blackdragon. Retrieved 2026-04-07. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ Johnson, & Schnell (2017). "Evolution of a Functional Head Joint in Deep-Sea Fishes (Stomiidae)". PLOS ONE. 12 (2) e0170224. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1270224S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170224. PMC 5287460. PMID 28146571.
  9. ↑ Sutton, T.T., Grzimek's animal life encyclopedia:Fishes I-II Volume 4-5, Pages 421-430
  10. ↑ Milkova, V. (August 2016). "Range Records for Ten Species of Stomiiform, Aulopiform, and Myctophiform Fishes in British Columbia, Canada". Northwestern Naturalist. 97 (2): 113–123. doi:10.1898/NWN15-11.1. ISSN 1051-1733. S2CID 88545210.
  11. 1 2 "Idiacanthus antrostomus summary page". FishBase. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  12. ↑ Marks, Alex (2016-07-25). "Reproductive Ecology of Dragonfishes (Family: Stomiidae) in the Gulf of Mexico". HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations.
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