Aristostomias is a genus of barbeled dragonfishes native to the ocean depths in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.[1]
Aristostomias | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Stomiiformes |
Family: | Stomiidae |
Subfamily: | Malacosteinae |
Genus: | Aristostomias Zugmayer, 1913 |
Type species | |
Aristostomias grimaldii Zugmayer, 1913
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Synonyms | |
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Similar to other deep-sea organisms that are capable of producing red light bioluminescence, including Pachystomias, Aristostomias has large suborbital photophores that produce red-shifted cold light.[2] In addition, Aristostomias has postorbital photophores that emit blue-green light.[3]
Most meso- and bathypelagic fish are only able to see shortwave light, as their retinae possess rods with rhodopsins sensitive to blue light.[4] Aristostomias is able to detect red-shifted light, as their retinae have long-wave absorbing rhodopsins and porphyropsins that can detect wavelengths of up to 590 nm.[5] Aristostomias can detect red light at distances of up to 2 meters, suggesting that detection is used primarily for close-range intraspecific communication and short-range prey detection.[6]
There are currently six recognized species in this genus:[1]