Idiacanthus atlanticus
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[Photo] Black Dragonfish (Idiacanthus atlanticus). Above, adult female. Centre, adult male. Bottom, larval form. Author: Dr. Tony Ayling

Idiacanthus atlanticus is a barbeled dragonfish of the family Stomiidae, found circumglobally in southern subtropical and temperate oceans between latitudes 25°S and 60°S, at depths down to 2,000 m. Length is up to 53 cm for the female, but only 5 cm for the male.

Idiacanthus atlanticus have long eel-like dorsal and anal fins and black scaleless bodies with two main rows of large photophores along each side and a scattering of smaller photophores on the body and head. In addition, there are regularly arranged patches of white luminous material along the flanks and on each side of all the fin rays.

The small males also have a very large luminous organ behind the eye that is probably used to attract females during the spawning season - their gut is degenerate and filled with large testes.

The long females have a long filamentous barbel containing a luminous lure.

The larval form have eyes on long stalks which are not lost until they reach a length of about 2.5 cm.

Females live below 500 m during the day and perform vertical migrations at night to shallower depths - males stay in deep water of about 1,000 - 2,000 m.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiacanthus_atlanticus

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