72.16 Leptostomias gracilis: 11 .5 em SL type of L. longibarba (after Regan &
Trewavas, 1930).
Genus Melanostomias Brauer, 1902
About 15 species; 4 known from our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Barbel with a terminal ovoid bulb with a
slender, finger-like tentacle beside the bulb .................... M. niger
1b Barbel with its terminal end flattened, variously
modified, but not forming a bulb ................................. .. ....... 2
2a Terminal, flattened end of barbel with at least
2 prominent bulbs on one side of axis, 1 or more
on the other side ................................................. M. valdiviae
2b Terminal, flattened end of barbel with no more
than 1 prominent bulb on each side ....................................... 3
3a Terminal end of barbel with masses of opaque
material filling much of the membrane on both
sides of axis; relatively large, round white
spots present on head; 1 at tip of snout, 1
dorsally on rear of head, Ion mid-snout, 1
or more anterior to eye, and a pair on isthmus
between lower-jaw halves ................................. M. bartonbeani
3b Terminal end of barbel without masses of
opaque material along axis, but with a prominent
bulb on one side of axis, often a smaller bulb
on opposite side, sometimes with tiny, discrete
bulblets; no large white spots on head .............. M. paucilaternatus
72: MELANOSTOMIIDAE (SCALELESS DRAGONFISHES)
72.17 Melanostomias bartonbeani
Parr, 1927
Melanostomias bartonbeani Parr, 1927: 45, Fig. 25 (northwestern
Atlantic); Gibbs, 1984: 358*. Melanostomias spilorhynchus: Morrow &
Gibbs, 1964: 363*; Parin & Pokhilskaya, 1978: 78*.
D 12-16; A 16-20; P 5. Photophores in ventral series: IP 8+2-3, PV 2326, V A V 12-16, AC 8-11, total 55-60; photophores in lateral series: OV
22-25, VAL 11-14, total 33-37. Vertebrae 48-51. Barbel to tip 17-24% of
SL, its stem black; barbel tip unpigmented, about 5 times longer than
wide, ending in a tapering filament.
Attains 26 cm. Taken once off Cape Columbine (western
Cape coast); widespread in Atlantic and southern Indian
Ocean.
72.18 Melanostomias niger
Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924
Melanostomias niger Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924: 6, PI. 2 (Fig. 2) (off
Table Bay); Smith, SFSA No. 133*; Parin & Pokhilskaya, 1978: 66*. Haplostomias tentaculatus (non Regan & Trewavas): Barnard, 1937: 47;
Smith, SFSA No. 132. Melanostomias tentaculatus (non Regan &
Trewavas): Karrer, 1973: 209.
D 15-17; A 17-20; P 5. Photophores in ventral series: IP 8+2-3, PV 2628, VAV 14-16, AC 9-11, total 59-64; photophores in lateral series: OV
26-27, VAL 13-15, total 40-42. Vertebrae 55-57. No prominent white
spots on head. Barbel to end of bulb 20-32% of SL, its stem black; a pale
terminal bulb with a black tentacle along it; 1 or more filaments may be
present on end of bulb.
Attains 26 cm. Widespread in South Atlantic between 20°
and 50 0 S; also Pacific south of about 30 0 S; not yet reported
from Indian Ocean.
72.19 Melanostomias paucilaternatus
Parin & Pokhilskaya, 1978
Melanostomias paucilaternatus Parin & Pokhilskaya, 1978: 80, Figs. 9a,
b (western Pacific, ca. 5°N,1300E).
72.17 Melanostomias bartonbeani: 20.5 em type of M. spilorhynchus (after Regan & Trewavas, 1930).
72.18 Melanostomias niger: 24 em (off Cape Town).
241
Trewavas, 1930).
Genus Melanostomias Brauer, 1902
About 15 species; 4 known from our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Barbel with a terminal ovoid bulb with a
slender, finger-like tentacle beside the bulb .................... M. niger
1b Barbel with its terminal end flattened, variously
modified, but not forming a bulb ................................. .. ....... 2
2a Terminal, flattened end of barbel with at least
2 prominent bulbs on one side of axis, 1 or more
on the other side ................................................. M. valdiviae
2b Terminal, flattened end of barbel with no more
than 1 prominent bulb on each side ....................................... 3
3a Terminal end of barbel with masses of opaque
material filling much of the membrane on both
sides of axis; relatively large, round white
spots present on head; 1 at tip of snout, 1
dorsally on rear of head, Ion mid-snout, 1
or more anterior to eye, and a pair on isthmus
between lower-jaw halves ................................. M. bartonbeani
3b Terminal end of barbel without masses of
opaque material along axis, but with a prominent
bulb on one side of axis, often a smaller bulb
on opposite side, sometimes with tiny, discrete
bulblets; no large white spots on head .............. M. paucilaternatus
72: MELANOSTOMIIDAE (SCALELESS DRAGONFISHES)
72.17 Melanostomias bartonbeani
Parr, 1927
Melanostomias bartonbeani Parr, 1927: 45, Fig. 25 (northwestern
Atlantic); Gibbs, 1984: 358*. Melanostomias spilorhynchus: Morrow &
Gibbs, 1964: 363*; Parin & Pokhilskaya, 1978: 78*.
D 12-16; A 16-20; P 5. Photophores in ventral series: IP 8+2-3, PV 2326, V A V 12-16, AC 8-11, total 55-60; photophores in lateral series: OV
22-25, VAL 11-14, total 33-37. Vertebrae 48-51. Barbel to tip 17-24% of
SL, its stem black; barbel tip unpigmented, about 5 times longer than
wide, ending in a tapering filament.
Attains 26 cm. Taken once off Cape Columbine (western
Cape coast); widespread in Atlantic and southern Indian
Ocean.
72.18 Melanostomias niger
Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924
Melanostomias niger Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924: 6, PI. 2 (Fig. 2) (off
Table Bay); Smith, SFSA No. 133*; Parin & Pokhilskaya, 1978: 66*. Haplostomias tentaculatus (non Regan & Trewavas): Barnard, 1937: 47;
Smith, SFSA No. 132. Melanostomias tentaculatus (non Regan &
Trewavas): Karrer, 1973: 209.
D 15-17; A 17-20; P 5. Photophores in ventral series: IP 8+2-3, PV 2628, VAV 14-16, AC 9-11, total 59-64; photophores in lateral series: OV
26-27, VAL 13-15, total 40-42. Vertebrae 55-57. No prominent white
spots on head. Barbel to end of bulb 20-32% of SL, its stem black; a pale
terminal bulb with a black tentacle along it; 1 or more filaments may be
present on end of bulb.
Attains 26 cm. Widespread in South Atlantic between 20°
and 50 0 S; also Pacific south of about 30 0 S; not yet reported
from Indian Ocean.
72.19 Melanostomias paucilaternatus
Parin & Pokhilskaya, 1978
Melanostomias paucilaternatus Parin & Pokhilskaya, 1978: 80, Figs. 9a,
b (western Pacific, ca. 5°N,1300E).
72.17 Melanostomias bartonbeani: 20.5 em type of M. spilorhynchus (after Regan & Trewavas, 1930).
72.18 Melanostomias niger: 24 em (off Cape Town).
241