Stareater (fish)
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.
Species
There are currently 48 recognized species in this genus:Astronesthes atlanticus Parin & Borodulina, 1996Astronesthes bilobatus Parin & Borodulina, 1996 Astronesthes boulengeri Gilchrist, 1902 Astronesthes caulophorus Regan & Trewavas, 1929Astronesthes chrysophekadion Astronesthes cyaneus Astronesthes decoratus Parin & Borodulina, 2002Astronesthes dupliglandis Parin & Borodulina, 1997Astronesthes exsul Parin & Borodulina, 2002 Astronesthes fedorovi Parin & Borodulina, 1994Astronesthes formosana Y. C. Liao, L. S. Chen & K. T. Shao, 2006Astronesthes galapagensis Parin, Borodulina & Hulley, 1999Astronesthes gemmifer Goode & T. H. Bean, 1896Astronesthes gibbsi Borodulina, 1992Astronesthes gudrunae Parin & Borodulina, 2002Astronesthes haplophos Parin & Borodulina, 2002Astronesthes ijimai S. Tanaka (I), 1908 Astronesthes illuminatus Parin, Borodulina & Hulley, 1999Astronesthes indicus A. B. Brauer, 1902 Astronesthes indopacificus Parin & Borodulina, 1997 Astronesthes karsteni Parin & Borodulina, 2002Astronesthes kreffti Gibbs & McKinney, 1988 Astronesthes lamellosus Goodyear & Gibbs, 1970Astronesthes lampara Parin & Borodulina, 1998Astronesthes leucopogon Regan & Trewavas, 1929Astronesthes lucibucca Parin & Borodulina, 1996Astronesthes lucifer C. H. Gilbert, 1905 Astronesthes luetkeni Regan & Trewavas, 1929Astronesthes lupina Whitley, 1941 Astronesthes macropogon Goodyear & Gibbs, 1970Astronesthes martensii Klunzinger, 1871Astronesthes micropogon Goodyear & Gibbs, 1970Astronesthes neopogon Regan & Trewavas, 1929Astronesthes niger J. Richardson, 1845Astronesthes nigroides Gibbs & Aron, 1960Astronesthes oligoa Parin & Borodulina, 2002Astronesthes psychrolutes Astronesthes quasiindicus Parin & Borodulina, 1996Astronesthes richardsoni Astronesthes similus A. E. Parr, 1927Astronesthes spatulifer Gibbs & McKinney, 1988Astronesthes splendidus A. B. Brauer, 1902 Astronesthes tanibe Parin & Borodulina, 2001Astronesthes tatyanae Parin & Borodulina, 1998Astronesthes tchuvasovi Parin & Borodulina, 1996Astronesthes trifibulatus Gibbs, Amaoka & Haruka, 1984 Astronesthes zetgibbsi Parin & Borodulina, 1997Astronesthes zharovi Parin & Borodulina, 1998The 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.