Malacosteus niger (Ayres 1848, 1849; Kenaley 2007; 25cm) is the extant stoplight loosejaw, a type of deep sea dragonfish, here related most closely to Late Triassic Howqualepis (abiove). The posterior dorsal and anal fins are large. The squamosal and jugal are reduced. Light emitting organs are present posterior to the eye. According to Kenaley 2007, "This genus is diagnosed within the Stomiidae by having enormous jaws, a single circular nostril on each side of the snout, a large tear-shaped accessory orbital photophore, serial photophores reduced in size and number, and intramandibular membrane, hyoid barbel, and palatine teeth absent."
By convergence with Dolidodus, the eyeball is at the extreme anterior of the skull, with a minimal rostrum, the jaw joint is far behind, no operculum is present. |
