ABSTRACT
Four species of stomiids occur in our area, three in the genus Stomias, and one in Macrostomias (Morrow 1964b). As adults the genera are separated by barbel length (equal or shorter than head length in Stomias, vs. 6-11 times head length in Macrostomias; the barbel terminates in a bulb with filaments), number and nature of pelvic rays (5 with connected membranes vs. 4-5 isolated), and number of large photophores in the ventral series (100 or less vs. 170 or more). As with the other stomioids the teeth are large and fang-like, photophores consist of postorbital gland below the eye, small organs scattered over the head and body, two rows on side of body with upper row extending from gill opening to anal fin origin and a lower row from the isthmus to caudal base, and small organs on the branchiostegals. As with the chauliodontids, the body is covered with scales (5-6 rows of hexagonal scales), but the dorsal fin is placed posteriorly opposite the anal fin. They are small to moderate-size (to ca. 40 cm SL), slender, compressed fishes. Coloration is iridescent black or dark green with a gelatinous membrane over the scales. They are common midwater predators of all oceans, usually found at meso-to bathypelagic depths with young occurring in nearsurface waters at night.
