Dragonfish

Dragonfish can emit red light from their eyes which they usually use for hunting down prey.

Dragonfish is a name that covers a wide variety of small fishes that have similar characteristics. These fish are usually found in warmer waters, especially in the Indo-Pacific.

Dragonfish have large heads, a broad jaw, and protruding teeth. This protrusion is part of the reason that they have such a scary look, lending to their name as well. Other common names are ribbon sawtail fish (their first name upon discovery), sea moth (although quite different in appearance) and Pacific blackdragon.

Incredible Dragonfish Facts!

Here are some cool facts about Dragonfish that make them unique and interesting:

• No scales – Not all dragonfish have scales! While the scaly dragonfish has scales shaped like hexagons, most dragonfish just have smooth skin. There are over 180 species of these fish that do not have scales.
• Chlorophyll-filled eyes – The dragonfish comes with chlorophyll in their eyes. They are the only known creature to have this feature.
• Protruding teeth – Dragonfish have a broad jaw and fang teeth protruding out of their mouths, which also gives them the scary look and justifies their name.
• Male-female size ratio – The males are known to be about one-tenth the size of the females. The females also have a barbel on their chin.

Dragonfish Classification and Scientific Name

Dragonfish are generally members of the Family Stomiidae. The order and class that they come from are Stomiiformes and Actinopterygii. The name “stomiiformes” literally translates to mean “Stomias-shaped.” Stomias comes from the Greek word for “mouth” or “hard bridle,” likely referencing the sleek body with a head as big as its width.

There are also five species of small marine fishes in the family Pegasidae and the order Pegasiformes that are considered dragonfish or sea moths.

There are six main types of dragonfish. They are Black dragonfish, Idiacanthus, Viperfish, Malacosteus, Aristostomias, and Eustomias. However, since dragonfish is a broad collection of different types of fish, there are hundreds (if not more) types of dragonfish or species. A few examples with their scientific names are:

• The black dragonfish’s scientific name is Idiacanthus atlanticus, which comes from the Greek phrases “idia” (“own”) and “Samantha” (“thorn”).
• The viperfish, is of the order Stomiiformes,genus Chauliodus, coming from the Greek word “chaulios” or “chaulos,” which means “to be with the mouth opened,” as well as the Greek word “odous,” which means “teeth.”.
• The stoplight loosejaw belongs to the genus Malacosteus, a name that comes from the Greek words “malakos” (“soft”) and “osteon” (“bone”). It’s specific scientific name is M. niger.
• The longfin dragonfish has the scientific name Tactostoma macropus.
• The Aristostomias genus, with six species that have red light characteristics like the dragonfish, is a scientific classification that means the “best mouth: combining the aforementioned Greek word for mouth (stomias) with the “aristos” prefix, which means “the best.”
• Finally, there is the Eustomias genus of dragonfish, meaning “good mouth” using the prefix “eu,” which the Greeks interpret as “good.”

Simply by understanding the scientific names, anyone can get a clearer understanding of how different dragonfish species may be from one another.

Dragonfish Appearance

While the different types of this fish could have many differences in their physical appearances, these fishes generally have large heads and fang teeth that often protrude out of their mouth – which gives them their scary name.

Many femail dragonfish have another protrusion known as the barbel that is attached to the chin. This protrusion has a light-producing photophore. Such photophores are also present along the sides of the bodies of these dragonfishes.

These fishes have transparent teeth and their bodies are usually dark that makes the dragonfishes invisible to their prey – making them one of the top predators under the water even though they some are only about 6 inches (15-16 centimeters) long and weigh just a half ounce (about 13 to 15 grams).

Dragonfish Distribution, Population, and Habitat

These fishes are usually known to be Deep Sea fishes, which means that they can only be found in the dark, deep corners of the underwater. They are usually found about 5000 to 7000 meters under the water.

Black dragon fishes can be found at a depth of about 200 to 1000 meters in the Eastern part of the Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, the sea moth can be found in the tropical Indo-Pacific regions like Tanzania, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysian Borneo, and the Southern Philippines.

NOAA has declared these fish as “not extinct” largely. However, some of them do face the dangers of extinction. The black dragonfish falls under the “not extinct” category while the Idiacanthus is “extinct.” Sea moth is also considered to be not extinct, though there are no conservation efforts currently needed to keep it safe.

Dragonfish Predators and Prey

Even though it is one of the top Deep Sea predators, these fish are also threatened by some predators themselves. The black dragonfish faces danger from the red flounder fish that is found on the ocean floor.

Meanwhile, they feed on marine invertebrates, algae, insects, shrimps, squids, and larvae. A dragonfish can often turn invisible to its preys and use the red light that it produces to hunt down food.

Dragonfish Reproduction and Lifespan

Since these fishes are Deep Sea creatures, very little is known about their mating rituals. However, it has been said that the female dragon fish might release eggs into the water, after which the eggs are fertilized by the male dragon fishes.

After the eggs hatch, the tiny fish babies, known as larvae, are left to fend for themselves until they reach maturity. Upon maturity, they join the adult dragonfishes in deep oceans. Meanwhile, the lifespan of a dragonfish is not known.

Dragonfish in Fishing and Cooking

People use different baits to lure and eventually catch the dragonfish as their food. It is eaten and is often considered to be one of the top marine dishes around the globe. It has firm flesh and comes with a nutty flavor, which adds to the much-desired taste.

There is no shortage of recipes to show how to properly make dragonfish, depending on the flavor that you enjoy. For instance, one method involves removing the bone and sautéing it with spring onions, red chili paste, and garlic. Some people use it to create a barbecue flavor. The delicacy can be made in many different ways, like the one seen here.

As delicious as a dragonfish may be, these fish contain poison sacks and spines that cannot be cooked. Any chef must remove these parts of the fish before it is cooked, as the poison is deadly.

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2. Wikipedia, Available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonfish
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7. Oceana, Available here: https://oceana.org/marine-life/ocean-fishes/pacific-blackdragon