Wingfin snaggletooth (Heterophotus ophistoma)

Scientific name: Heterophotus ophistoma Regan & Trewavas, 1929

The Wingfin snaggletooth (Heterophotus ophistoma) is a marine fish of the family Stomiidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 17. Teeth on jaws very short, spine-like; photopores of ventral row excluding AC series arranged in discontinuous, close-set groups of 1 to 5. Barbel shorter than head, dark stem, flattened and tapering tip. Black in color.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Heterophotus ophistoma
Family: Stomiidae (Barbeled dragonfishes)
Order: Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and Dragonfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 35.6
Depth range: 790–1420 m (2592–4659 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 790 - 1420 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: Western Sahara south to Namibia, not recorded close to the coast. Western Atlantic: Bermuda south to Brazil including Caribbean Sea and the southern Subtropical Convergence. Also, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026