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Pachystomias

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Species of fish

Pachystomias
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Stomiiformes
Family: Stomiidae
Subfamily: Melanostomiinae
Genus: Pachystomias
Günther, 1887
Species: P. microdon
Binomial name
Pachystomias microdon
(Günther, 1878)

Pachystomias microdon, the smalltooth dragonfish, is a species of barbeled dragonfish found in the oceans at depths of from 660 to 4,000 metres (2,170 to 13,120 ft). This species grows to a length of 22.1 centimetres (8.7 in) SL. This species is the only known species in its genus.

Red Light Bioluminescence

Production of far-red bioluminescence

Pachystomias is one of three deep-sea fish that can produce red light bioluminescence, along with Aristostomias, Chirostomias, and Malacosteus. In addition to producing blue light via postorbital photophores, Pachystomias also possess suborbital and preorbital cephalic photophores that are capable of producing far-red bioluminescence, with wavelength emissions of over 650 nm. Compared to other bioluminescent fish, Pachystomias has a uniquely large suborbital photophore, which extends from the orbit to the roof of the mouth, while the preorbital photophore is much smaller. The suborbital and preorbital organs have been observed to produce both bright flashes as well as steady glows.

Visual systems

Deep-sea fishes that are able to detect light typically have visual pigments sensitive to blue and green light, ranging from 470-490 nm. However, deep-sea loose-jawed dragonfish, including Pachystomias, are sensitive to long-wave light and are able to detect their own bioluminescence. Pachystomias has at least three long-wave shifted pigments that can detect wavelengths of up to 595 nm.

Adaptive significance

Pachystomias are able to both produce and see far-red wavelengths. Because the ability to detect red light is rare, it is thought that this adaptation could serve deep-sea loose-jawed dragonfish by acting as a prey-detection system, as well as for intraspecific communication.

References

  1. Kenaley, Christopher (18 November 2009). "Comparative innervation of cephalic photophores of the loosejaw dragonfishes (Teleostei: Stomiiformes: Stomiidae): Evidence for parallel evolution of long-wave bioluminescence". Journal of Morphology. 271 (4): 418–437. doi:10.1002/jmor.10807. PMID 19924766. S2CID 15947385 – via Wiley Online Library.
  2. ^ Herring, Peter J.; Cope, Celia (2005-12-01). "Red bioluminescence in fishes: on the suborbital photophores of Malacosteus, Pachystomias and Aristostomias". Marine Biology. 148 (2): 383–394. doi:10.1007/s00227-005-0085-3. ISSN 1432-1793. S2CID 86463272.
  3. Partridge, Julian C.; Douglas, Ron H. (May 1995). "Far-red sensitivity of dragon fish". Nature. 375 (6526): 21–22. Bibcode:1995Natur.375...21P. doi:10.1038/375021a0. ISSN 1476-4687. S2CID 29530345.
  4. Douglas, R. H.; Mullineaux, C. W.; Partridge, J. C. (2000-09-29). "Longwave sensitivity in deepsea stomiid dragonfish with farred bioluminescence: evidence for a dietary origin of the chlorophyllderived retinal photosensitizer of Malacosteus niger". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences. 355 (1401): 1269–1272. doi:10.1098/rstb.2000.0681. PMC 1692851. PMID 11079412.
  5. Widder, Edith; Latz, Michael; Herring, Peter; Case, James (3 Aug 1984). "Far Red Bioluminescence from Two Deep-Sea Fishes". Science. 225 (4661): 512–514. Bibcode:1984Sci...225..512W. doi:10.1126/science.225.4661.512. PMID 17750854. S2CID 31510972.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Taxon identifiers
Pachystomias microdon


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