Leptostomias gladiator

Leptostomias gladiator is a species of fish in the family Stomiidae (barbeled dragonfish).^[3][4][5] It is sometimes called the scaleless dragonfish, but that name is shared with many other species.^[6][7]

Leptostomias gladiator
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Stomiiformes
Family:	Stomiidae
Genus:	Leptostomias
Species:	L. gladiator
Binomial name
Leptostomias gladiator (Zugmayer, 1911)
Synonyms[2]
Leptostomias problematicus Parr, 1927 Leptostomias ramosus Regan & Trewavas, 1930 Melanostomias gladiator Zugmayer, 1911 Melanostomias problematicus Parr, 1927 Melanostomias ramosus Regan & Trewavas, 1930 Nematostomias gladiator Zugmayer, 1911

Description

Leptostomias gladiator has a slender body, blackish brown to deep black.^[8] The bulb of its barbel is creamy yellow, and its photophores are violet. Its length is maximum 37.3 cm (14.7 in).^[9] It has 19–22 dorsal soft rays and 23–29 anal soft rays.^[10][11] It has 77 vertebrae.^[12]

Habitat

Leptostomias gladiator lives in non-polar oceans worldwide.^[13] It is bathypelagic, living at depths up to 5,000 m (3.1 mi).^[10]

Behaviour

Leptostomias gladiator eats lanternfish.^[12]