Snaggletooths or stareaters are any of a number of small, deep-sea stomiid fish in the genus Astronesthes. They possess a bioluminescent red chin barbel that the fish use as a lure to attract small prey into striking distance.
The fish have delicate skin, and mouths filled with sharp, needlelike, curved teeth.Stewart, Andrew. "Science report: Denizens of the deep: daggertooth and stareater." NZ IPY-CAML Voyage 2008. 2008. Ministry of Fisheries. Crown Copyright: 2008. http://www.fish.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/7CF525AF-2985-4152-B225-28E52E389F3B/0/IPYdiary10.pdf
Species There are currently 48 recognized species in this genus:
Astronesthes atlanticus Parin & Borodulina, 1996 Astronesthes bilobatus Parin & Borodulina, 1996 (Twinlobe snaggletooth) Astronesthes boulengeri Gilchrist, 1902 (Boulenger's snaggletooth) Astronesthes caulophorus Regan & Trewavas, 1929 Astronesthes chrysophekadion (Bleeker, 1849) Astronesthes cyaneus (A. B. Brauer, 1902) Astronesthes decoratus Parin & Borodulina, 2002 Astronesthes dupliglandis Parin & Borodulina, 1997 Astronesthes exsul Parin & Borodulina, 2002 (Exile snaggletooth) Astronesthes fedorovi Parin & Borodulina, 1994 Astronesthes formosana Y. C. Liao, L. S. Chen & K. T. Shao, 2006 Astronesthes galapagensis Parin, Borodulina & Hulley, 1999 Astronesthes gemmifer Goode & T. H. Bean, 1896 Astronesthes gibbsi Borodulina, 1992 Astronesthes gudrunae Parin & Borodulina, 2002 Astronesthes haplophos Parin & Borodulina, 2002 Astronesthes ijimai S. Tanaka (I), 1908 (Ijima's snaggletooth) Astronesthes illuminatus Parin, Borodulina & Hulley, 1999 Astronesthes indicus A. B. Brauer, 1902 (Black snaggletooth) Astronesthes indopacificus Parin & Borodulina, 1997 (Indo-Pacific snaggletooth) Astronesthes karsteni Parin & Borodulina, 2002 Astronesthes kreffti Gibbs & McKinney, 1988 (Krefft's snaggletooth) Astronesthes lamellosus Goodyear & Gibbs, 1970 Astronesthes lampara Parin & Borodulina, 1998 Astronesthes leucopogon Regan & Trewavas, 1929 Astronesthes lucibucca Parin & Borodulina, 1996 Astronesthes lucifer C. H. Gilbert, 1905 (Pacific astronesthid fish) Astronesthes luetkeni Regan & Trewavas, 1929 Astronesthes lupina Whitley, 1941 (Little wolf) Astronesthes macropogon Goodyear & Gibbs, 1970 Astronesthes martensii Klunzinger, 1871 Astronesthes micropogon Goodyear & Gibbs, 1970 Astronesthes neopogon Regan & Trewavas, 1929 Astronesthes niger J. Richardson, 1845 Astronesthes nigroides Gibbs & Aron, 1960 Astronesthes oligoa Parin & Borodulina, 2002 Astronesthes psychrolutes (Gibbs & S. H. Weitzman, 1965) (Temperate snaggletooth) Astronesthes quasiindicus Parin & Borodulina, 1996 Astronesthes richardsoni (Poey, 1852) (Richardson's snaggletooth) Astronesthes similus A. E. Parr, 1927 Astronesthes spatulifer Gibbs & McKinney, 1988 Astronesthes splendidus A. B. Brauer, 1902 (Splendid snaggletooth) Astronesthes tanibe Parin & Borodulina, 2001 Astronesthes tatyanae Parin & Borodulina, 1998 Astronesthes tchuvasovi Parin & Borodulina, 1996 Astronesthes trifibulatus Gibbs, Amaoka & Haruka, 1984 (Triplethread snaggletooth) Astronesthes zetgibbsi Parin & Borodulina, 1997 Astronesthes zharovi Parin & Borodulina, 1998 The only potential fossil species of this genus is ?Astronesthes simus Arambourg, 1967 from the Late Eocene or Early Oligocene-aged Pabdeh Formation of Iran. However, its taxonomic assignment to this genus is uncertain. Remains from the Middle Eocene of Georgia previously assigned to this genus are now placed in their own genus, Azemiolestes.
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