# Dragonfish (*Stomias*)

The Dragonfish is a deep-sea fish known for the glowing barbel on its chin. It makes its own light, which scientists think helps it attract prey in the dark depths of the ocean.

- **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Deep Sea

![Dragonfish](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424790/objects/6053.jpg)

## Appearance

The Dragonfish is a slender, eel-like fish typically dark black or brown. It has a huge mouth filled with needle-sharp teeth and often a long chin barbel ending in a light-producing organ. Its distinct, menacing appearance sets it apart from other deep-sea fish.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Teleostei
- **Order:** Stomiiformes
- **Family:** Stomiidae
- **Genus:** Stomias

## Dragonfish, up close

Scaly dragonfishes (genus Stomias) are slender, dark predators of the deep ocean and part of the barbeled dragonfish family, Stomiidae. The best-known species, the boa dragonfish (Stomias boa), grows to about 32 cm and has been found between 200 and 2,173 m deep, rising towards the surface at night. A glowing barbel hangs from its chin, light organs line its belly, and its long fangs are hinged.

Also called: Scaly dragonfish, Boa dragonfish.

A glowing chin lure, fangs that fold inwards and a head that tips back to swallow big prey. Spin it, tap it, then test yourself.

### Special abilities

- **Chin Lure** (Own light made by the fish, not by bacteria; still debated): A glowing bulb dangles from the dragonfish's chin. Scientists think it draws prey closer in the dark, but its exact job is still a hypothesis. [4][5][3][1]
  - Nearly all barbeled dragonfishes have a glowing chin barbel. Researchers think it is used both to attract prey and to signal to other dragonfish.
  - The light comes from the fish's own chemistry. Deep-sea anglerfish lures glow because of bacteria living inside them.
  - Nobody has measured a flashing rhythm for Stomias, so the model shows a slow, steady pulse.
- **Belly Lights** (27× light-making evolved in fishes): Light organs along its sides and belly glow in the dark. Scientists think lights like these help a fish blend in with the faint light from above. [2][10][5]
  - A row of large photophores runs along each side, with smaller ones mostly on the belly.
  - Organs near the eyes are reported to sense the light around the fish so it can adjust its own glow.
  - Most deep-sea fish see best in blue, which matches most of the light animals make down there.
  - Fishes have evolved light-making at least 27 separate times.
- **Folding Fangs** (1 row of hinged fangs on each jaw): An x-ray look at the fangs. They fold inwards to let prey in, then flick back up so it can't slip out. [3][6]
  - Scans of Stomias boa show that each fang is held on its inner side by a soft ligament that is not hardened into bone, so it can tip inwards.
  - Upper and lower fangs alternate, and scientists compare the closed mouth to a cage.
  - Another dragonfish, Aristostomias scintillans, has see-through teeth. Their enamel-like outer layer is made of crystals about 20 nanometres across, too small to scatter much light.
- **Head-Back Gulp** (Up to 120° gape in related dragonfishes): To swallow big prey, the dragonfish tips its head back on a flexible neck and drops its jaw open very wide. [7][8][9]
  - Dragonfishes have a gap between the skull and the backbone where only a flexible rod (the notochord) remains.
  - In Stomias boa, pads of tough tissue around this gap act like a double ball-and-socket joint and are thought to brace the neck when the mouth gapes.
  - In related dragonfishes with a true head joint, the skull tips back farther than in any other bony fish, opening the mouth up to 120°.
- **Night Commute** (0–200 m where it was caught at night): By day Stomias waits in the deep. After dark it swims up towards the surface, where many small fish also gather at night. [1][14][11][16]
  - Stomias boa reportedly spends the day deeper than about 1,000 m and may swim up close to the surface at night.
  - In the Northeast Atlantic, Stomias boa was the main fish hunter caught in the top 200 m at night.
  - Not every dragonfish commutes. The stoplight loosejaw stays below about 500 to 600 m.
- **Fish Supper** (Fish main prey): Dragonfishes are among the top hunters of the twilight zone. They mostly eat other fish, sucking prey in as the mouth opens. [1][3][14][17]
  - Stomias boa eats midwater fishes and crustaceans.
  - Dragonfishes take prey by suction, then their fangs keep it from escaping.
  - As Stomias boa grows, it feeds higher up the food web.
- **Shadow Skin** (<0.5% light reflected by ultra-black fish; still debated): Many deep-sea fish have ultra-black skin that swallows almost all light, hiding them from glowing searchlights. Whether Stomias has it has not been measured. [13][18][19]
  - In 2020 scientists found ultra-black skin in 16 deep-sea fish species from seven different groups, including a lure-bearing dragonfish.
  - A tight layer of melanin packets in the skin traps light. Compared with skin that reflects 2% of light, an ultra-black fish can only be seen from a sixth of the distance, or less.
  - Stomias are dark, but we found no study that measured their skin, so this ability is shown as a likely trick, not a fact.
- **Deep Range** (2,173 m deepest Stomias boa record): Stomias boa has been found from 200 m down to 2,173 m deep, far below where sunlight reaches. [1][20][21][2]
  - It usually lives much shallower than this, rising near the surface at night.
  - It is found in deep oceans from 71°N to 50°S.
  - Its relatives go deeper still: the stoplight loosejaw has been found to 3,886 m.
  - Deepest records: Boa dragonfish 2,173 m; Stoplight loosejaw 3,886 m; Humpback anglerfish 4,500 m

### Body parts

- **Chin barbel** (Glowing bulb near the tip) [1][2][3][4][5]
  - A long, fleshy barbel hangs from the chin. In Stomias boa it has a pale stalk, a dark spot at the base of the bulb and a dark filament at the end.
  - A glowing chin barbel is the trademark of the barbeled dragonfishes, and nearly all of their closest relatives have one.
  - The fish makes this light with its own body chemistry. Anglerfish lures, by contrast, are lit by bacteria.
  - Scientists think the barbel helps attract prey and signal to other dragonfish, but nobody has filmed a Stomias using it.
- **Fangs** (Hinged fangs fold inwards) [3][6]
  - Stomias boa has one row of long, sharp fangs on each jaw, with gaps between them.
  - On the inner side the fangs are held by a soft, flexible ligament, so they can fold inwards as prey slides in, then spring back up.
  - Upper and lower fangs alternate, so a closed mouth works like a cage that stops prey slipping out.
  - See-through teeth were studied in a different dragonfish, Aristostomias scintillans, not in Stomias.
- **Head joint** (Up to 120° gape in related dragonfishes) [7][8][9]
  - In most fish the skull is firmly joined to the shoulder bones. In dragonfishes it is not, and there is a gap between skull and backbone.
  - In Stomias boa, thick pads of tough tissue form a kind of double ball-and-socket joint for the head. Scientists think it braces the neck when the mouth opens extremely wide.
  - In some related dragonfishes the head can be tipped back far enough for a gape of up to 120°, measured on museum specimens.
- **Eyes** [10][11][2][12]
  - Most deep-sea fish see best in blue light, which matches the glow most deep-sea animals make.
  - Behind each eye sits a large light organ. In Stomias, males reportedly have bigger eyes and bigger light organs there than females.
  - Organs near the eyes are reported to sense the light around the fish, so it can adjust how bright its own lights shine.
  - In the stoplight loosejaw, a relative, males have bigger eye lenses than females, which may help them spot females' lights.
- **Light organs** (27 times light-making evolved in fishes) [2][5]
  - A row of large light organs, called photophores, runs along each side. Smaller ones are scattered in a geometric pattern, mostly on the belly.
  - Like the barbel, they glow using the fish's own chemistry rather than borrowed bacteria.
  - Light-making has evolved at least 27 separate times in fishes. Groups with their own built-in lights, like dragonfishes, have split into unusually many species.
- **Scaly skin** [2][13]
  - Stomias are called scaly dragonfishes: their dark skin is covered in small, six-sided scales.
  - Some deep-sea fish have ultra-black skin that reflects less than 0.5% of light. We found no measurement for Stomias.
- **Back fins** (17–22 rays in the dorsal fin) [2]
  - The dorsal fin on top and the anal fin underneath sit far back, close to the tail.
  - Both fins are soft, with no spines: 17 to 22 rays on top and 18 to 22 underneath.
  - The tail fin is forked.
- **Stomach** [7][3][14]
  - Dragonfishes have a stretchy stomach that can hold large prey for their size.
  - Stomias and its close relatives have no swim bladder, the gas bag many fish use to float.
  - Dragonfishes mainly eat other fish. Some also take crustaceans and squid.
- **Body** (32.2 cm longest Stomias boa) [1][15][4][2]
  - The body is long, slim and snake-like. Its name boa comes from the snake.
  - Stomias boa reaches 32.2 cm, measured without the tail fin. The longest species in the genus, Stomias longibarbatus, reaches 43 cm.
  - Stomias is one genus in a family of more than 350 species of barbeled dragonfishes.
  - Swordfish, deepwater hakes and blackmouth catsharks are among the predators known to eat it.

### Stats

| Stat | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 32.2 cm | longest Stomias boa, measured without the tail fin; The longest Stomias species reaches 43 cm [1][15] |
| Depth range | 200–2,173 m | where Stomias boa has been found [1] |
| Night layer | 0–200 m | where Stomias boa was caught at night in the Northeast Atlantic [14] |
| Range | 71°N–50°S | Stomias boa, in deep oceans [1] |
| Stomias species | ≈11 | FishBase lists 11; some scientists count fewer [15][11] |
| Dragonfish family | 350+ | species of barbeled dragonfishes (Stomiidae) [4] |
| Widest gape | 120° | in dragonfishes with a true head joint (not measured in Stomias) [8] |
| Tooth crystals | ≈20 nm | crystal size in the see-through teeth of Aristostomias scintillans [6] |
| Ultra-black skin | <0.5% | light reflected by 16 ultra-black deep-sea fishes (Stomias not tested) [13] |
| Red light | ≈705 nm | peak of the stoplight loosejaw's red light organ [24] |

### Photos

- [Stomias boa, from Hickson's The Fauna of the Deep Sea (1893)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stomias_boa.jpg) (photo: Sydney John Hickson, Public domain)
- [Stomias boa, painted for the Prince of Monaco's expeditions (1911)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stomias_boa_(par_Zugmayer).jpg) (photo: Erich Zugmayer, Public domain)
- [Stomias longibarbatus, the longest Stomias, from Carl Chun's Valdivia expedition book (1903)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stomias_longibarbatus.jpg) (photo: Carl Chun, Public domain)
- [Günther's boafish (Stomias affinis), from the Challenger expedition report (1887)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stomias_affinis1.jpg) (photo: R. Mintern, Public domain)
- [Stoplight loosejaw (Malacosteus niger), from the Prince of Monaco's expeditions](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Malacosteus_niger1.jpg) (photo: Emma Kissling, Public domain)
- [Stoplight loosejaw, from the Challenger expedition report (1887)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Malacosteus_niger4.jpg) (photo: R. Mintern, Public domain)
- [A model of a stoplight loosejaw at the Natural History Museum, London](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hal_-_Malacosteus_niger_-_1.jpg) (photo: Emőke Dénes, CC BY-SA 4.0)

### Questions

- **Are dragonfish dangerous to humans?** No. Dragonfish are small, about 32 cm at most for the boa dragonfish, and they live hundreds of metres down, far from swimmers. Their fangs are for small fish and crustaceans. [1][20]
- **Why do dragonfish glow?** They make their own light. The glowing chin barbel is thought to attract prey and signal to other dragonfish, and rows of belly lights probably help them blend in with faint light from above. [5][4][2]
- **Do dragonfish have see-through teeth?** Some do. A 2019 study found transparent teeth in the dragonfish Aristostomias scintillans, built from crystals about 20 nanometres across. Scaly dragonfishes (Stomias) have hinged fangs that fold inwards. [6][3]
- **How deep do dragonfish live?** The boa dragonfish has been found from 200 m to 2,173 m deep. It often swims up into the top 200 m at night to hunt. [1][14]
- **What do dragonfish eat?** Mainly other fish, plus crustaceans and sometimes squid. They suck prey in, and their fangs stop it escaping. [1][3]
- **Do dragonfish make red light?** Only a few relatives do, such as the stoplight loosejaw, whose red light peaks at about 705 nm. We found no report of red light in scaly dragonfishes (Stomias). [24]
- **Is the dragonfish endangered?** The boa dragonfish is listed as Least Concern (assessed 2013), though its population trend is unknown. Future deep-sea fishing and low-oxygen water are possible risks. [26][28][29]
- **What is the difference between a dragonfish and an anglerfish?** Both hunt with light, but in different ways. A dragonfish has a glowing barbel on its chin that it lights itself. A female anglerfish has a lure on a stalk on its head, lit by bacteria. [5][21]

### Dragonfish myths and facts

Deep-sea fish attract wild stories. Here is what the research says.

- "Dragonfish use red light like a sniper scope to spot prey." **Myth!** Not Stomias. Red light is known from only a few relatives, such as the stoplight loosejaw and Aristostomias. Their red light peaks at about 705 nm, and the loosejaw sees it with help from a chlorophyll-based pigment. We found no report of red light in Stomias. [24][10]
- "A dragonfish's fangs can fold inwards." **Fact!** Scans of Stomias boa show the fangs are held by a soft ligament on the inside, so they tip inwards as prey enters and then spring back. [3]
- "Dragonfish unhinge their jaws like a snake." **Myth!** They don't unhook their jaws. Instead, the skull tips back on a flexible neck, so the mouth opens very wide. In some relatives the gape reaches 120°. [7][8]
- "Some dragonfish have see-through teeth." **Fact!** A 2019 study of Aristostomias scintillans found its teeth are transparent because they are built from tiny crystals, about 20 nanometres across, that scatter very little light. [6]
- "The glowing chin barbel is proven to lure prey." **Not proven!** It is a strong idea, but it is still a hypothesis. Scientists think the barbel may attract prey and also send signals to other dragonfish. [4][25]
- "Dragonfish are giant sea monsters." **Myth!** Stomias boa reaches about 32 cm, and the longest Stomias species 43 cm. Even female blackdragons, a long relative, reach only about 53 cm. [1][15][25]
- "Dragonfish skin absorbs all light." **Myth!** No skin absorbs everything. Ultra-black deep-sea fish reflect less than 0.5% of light, and the darkest measured, an anglerfish, reflected 0.044%. Stomias skin has not been measured. [13][18]
- "Dragonfish stay in the deep all the time." **Myth!** Stomias boa swims up at night and has been caught in the top 200 m after dark. Some relatives, like the stoplight loosejaw, do stay deep. [1][14][16]

### Dragonfish records

Superlatives from the dragonfish family and their deep-sea neighbours, each one sourced.

- Widest-opening head: Dragonfishes with a true head joint, such as loosejaws, 120° (Their skull tips back farther than in any other bony fish without such a joint, for a gape of up to 120°.) [8]
- Only fish known to see with a chlorophyll pigment: Stoplight loosejaw, Unique (Its eyes use a pigment made from bacterial chlorophyll to pick up its own far-red light.) [10]
- Biggest family in its order: Barbeled dragonfishes (Stomiidae), 350+ species (Of the 464 species of dragonfishes, bristlemouths, hatchetfishes and kin, more than 350 are barbeled dragonfishes.) [4][19]
- Longest scaly dragonfish: Stomias longibarbatus, 43 cm (The longest species in the genus, measured without the tail fin.) [15]
- Deepest boa dragonfish: Stomias boa, 2,173 m (The deepest record for the species.) [1]
- Darkest fish skin measured: An Oneirodes anglerfish (not a dragonfish), 0.044% (The darkest of the ultra-black deep-sea fishes found in 2020.) [18][13]

### A day in the life of a dragonfish

One boa dragonfish, 24 hours, and a long swim up and down.

- **Midday**: Waiting in the deep. It spends the day deep down, reportedly often below 1,000 m, where sunlight barely reaches. [1][2]
- **Afternoon**: Lights matched. Organs near its eyes reportedly sense the faint light, so it can adjust the glow of its belly lights. [2]
- **Dusk**: Going up. As the light above fades, it begins its climb towards the surface. [1][11]
- **Night**: Top 200 m. In the Northeast Atlantic, it is the main fish hunter caught in the top 200 m at night. [14]
- **Midnight**: The lure glows. Its chin barbel glows in the dark. Scientists think the light may draw small fish closer. [4][3]
- **Strike**: Folding fangs. It sucks prey in. Its fangs fold back to let it pass, then spring up again like a gate. [3]
- **Later**: Big gulp. Its head tips back on its flexible neck and the meal goes into its stretchy stomach. [7][3]
- **Before dawn**: Back down. Before the sun rises, it sinks back into the deep for the day. [1][11]

### Dragonfish vs stoplight loosejaw vs anglerfish

Three deep-sea hunters with glowing tricks, and three different ways to use them.

| | Boa dragonfish | Stoplight loosejaw | Humpback anglerfish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family [1][20][21] | Barbeled dragonfishes (Stomias boa) | Barbeled dragonfishes (Malacosteus niger) | Deep-sea anglerfishes (Melanocetus johnsonii) |
| Size [1][20][21] | Up to 32.2 cm | Up to 25.6 cm | Females 18 cm, males 2.9 cm |
| Depth range [1][20][21] | 200–2,173 m | 500–3,886 m | 100–4,500 m |
| Glowing tool [2][24][21] | Glowing bulb on a chin barbel, plus belly lights | Red light organ under each eye, blue one behind | Lure on a long stalk on the head (female) |
| Light made by [5][24] | The fish itself | The fish itself (red probably made with filters) | Bacteria living in the lure |
| At night [14][16][20] | Rises into the top 200 m | Stays below about 500–600 m | — |
| Food [1][20] | Midwater fishes and crustaceans | Crustaceans and fishes | — |
| Special trick [3][7][10][21] | Fangs fold inwards; head tips back | Sees its own red light | Lure stalk up to 61% of body length |

Lengths are maximums, measured in slightly different ways. — means our sources did not cover it.

### Is the dragonfish endangered?

Not as far as we know. But the deep ocean is changing, and people are eyeing its fish.

- **IUCN Red List:** Least Concern (LC) (Trend unknown). Stomias boa is listed as Least Concern. It lives in deep oceans from 71°N to 50°S. Its population trend is not known. [26][1][27]
- IUCN Red List, assessed 2013 (Stomias boa)
- **Threat: Future fishing** (2–19.5 Gt): Twilight-zone fish may weigh 2 to 19.5 billion tonnes in total, and there is interest in catching them for fishmeal and supplements. FishBase rates Stomias boa as moderately vulnerable to fishing. [28][1]
- **Threat: Shrinking living space** (≈39%): Off California, one model projects the livable twilight zone could shrink by about 40 m (39%) by 2100 under high emissions, as low-oxygen water rises. [29]
- **Threat: Big unknowns**: Nobody knows how many dragonfish there are or whether their numbers are changing. [26][1]
- **Helping: High Seas Treaty** (2026): A United Nations agreement to protect marine life outside any country's waters came into force on 17 January 2026. [30]
- **Helping: Science first**: Researchers argue we need to know much more about twilight-zone fish and their food webs before they are fished. [28]
- **Helping: New maps of the family**: New studies in 2025 and 2026 are sorting out how the many dragonfishes are related and what they eat. [4][19][14]

### Ages & relatives

- **Adult boa dragonfish**: Long, slim and dark, with small six-sided scales, a chin barbel with a glowing bulb and rows of light organs on the belly. (Up to 32.2 cm; rises into the top 200 m at night) [1][2][14]
- **Young boa dragonfish**: Shaped like the adult but smaller. One study sampled boa dragonfish from about 8 to 30 cm long. (As it grows, it feeds higher up the food web) [14][17]
- **Clear larva**: Drawn as a tiny, see-through, slender larva. Being transparent is a common way to hide in open water. (Young dragonfishes have been caught in the top 200 m at night) [22][23]
- **Stoplight loosejaw (Malacosteus niger)**: A dark relative with a red light organ under each eye and a blue one behind it. Its red light peaks at about 705 nm. (Up to 25.6 cm; stays deep (500–3,886 m) and sees red using a chlorophyll-based pigment) [24][20][10]

### Dragonfish quiz

1. What hangs from a dragonfish's chin? **A glowing barbel.** A fleshy barbel with a glowing bulb near the tip. [1][3]
2. What lights up a dragonfish's lure? **Its own body chemistry.** Dragonfish lights are their own chemistry. Anglerfish lures use bacteria. [5]
3. What can a boa dragonfish's fangs do? **Fold inwards.** A soft ligament lets them tip inwards as prey enters, then spring back. [3]
4. Which dragonfish was studied for its see-through teeth? **Aristostomias scintillans.** The 2019 study looked at Aristostomias scintillans, not Stomias. [6]
5. How wide can the mouth of some dragonfishes open? **Up to 120°.** A true head joint lets the skull tip back for a gape of up to 120°. [8]
6. How long can a boa dragonfish grow? **About 32 cm.** The longest Stomias boa measured 32.2 cm without its tail fin. [1]
7. Where was Stomias boa caught at night in the Northeast Atlantic? **In the top 200 m.** It swims up at night and was the main fish hunter in the top 200 m. [14]
8. Which relative makes red light? **Stoplight loosejaw.** The stoplight loosejaw has a red light organ under each eye, peaking at about 705 nm. [24]
9. How much light does ultra-black fish skin reflect? **Less than 0.5%.** Under 0.5%. No skin absorbs everything, and Stomias skin hasn't been measured. [13]
10. What is the deepest record for Stomias boa? **2,173 m.** It has been found down to 2,173 m. [1]
11. What is the boa dragonfish's IUCN status? **Least Concern.** It was assessed as Least Concern in 2013. Its trend is unknown. [26][1]
12. Why are Stomias called scaly dragonfishes? **Their skin has small six-sided scales.** Their dark skin is covered in small, six-sided scales. [2]

### Sources (checked 2026-10-16)

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4. [Dearmon ES, Smith WL, Davis MP (2026). Dragons of the deep (Stomiiformes: Stomiidae): evolutionary relationships and taxonomy of the barbeled dragonfishes (Stomiinae). Zootaxa 5759:1–25.](https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5759.1.1)
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10. [Douglas RH, Genner MJ, Hudson AG, Partridge JC, Wagner HJ (2016). Localisation and origin of the bacteriochlorophyll-derived photosensitizer in the retina of the deep-sea dragon fish Malacosteus niger. Scientific Reports 6:39395.](https://doi.org/10.1038/srep39395)
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14. [Thibault H, Ménard F, Roudaut G, Lebourges-Dhaussy A, Cherel Y et al. (2026). Functional and trophic structuring of micronektonic fishes in the Northeast Atlantic. Ecology and Evolution 16:e74275.](https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74275)
15. [Froese R, Pauly D (eds). Species of the genus Stomias. FishBase (version 2025).](https://www.fishbase.se/identification/SpeciesList.php?genus=Stomias)
16. [Kenaley CP (2008). Diel vertical migration of the loosejaw dragonfishes (Stomiiformes: Stomiidae: Malacosteinae): a new analysis for rare pelagic taxa. Journal of Fish Biology 73:888–901.](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.01983.x)
17. [Loutrage L, Brind'Amour A, Chouvelon T, Spitz J (2024). Ontogenetic shift or not? Different foraging trade-offs within the meso- to bathypelagic fish community. Ecology and Evolution 14:e11129.](https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11129)
18. [Wikipedia contributors. Ultra-Black. English Wikipedia (accessed 2026-10-16).](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-Black)
19. [Chang S, Heiple Z, Hays D et al. (2025). Genome-wide phylogeny reshapes our understanding of the evolution of deep-sea dragonfishes, bristlemouths, viperfishes, and allies (Stomiiformes). BMC Ecology and Evolution 25:111.](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-025-02453-0)
20. [Froese R, Pauly D (eds). Malacosteus niger, Stoplight loosejaw. FishBase (version 2025).](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Malacosteus-niger.html)
21. [Froese R, Pauly D (eds). Melanocetus johnsonii, Humpback anglerfish. FishBase (version 2025).](https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Melanocetus-johnsonii.html)
22. [Johnsen S (2001). Hidden in plain sight: the ecology and physiology of organismal transparency. Biological Bulletin 201:301–318.](https://doi.org/10.2307/1543609)
23. [Mouiret O, Abdelouahab H, Tiedemann M, Goliat Y, Ettahiri O et al. (2026). Spatial distribution of early life stages of fish along horizontal and vertical gradients in the Canary Current large marine ecosystem. Journal of Plankton Research 48:fbag030.](https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbag030)
24. [Widder EA, Latz MI, Herring PJ, Case JF (1984). Far red bioluminescence from two deep-sea fishes. Science 225:512–514.](https://doi.org/10.1126/science.225.4661.512)
25. [Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Ocean Twilight Zone. Creature Feature: Dragonfish.](https://twilightzone.whoi.edu/explore-the-otz/creature-features/dragonfish/)
26. [Harold A (2015). Stomias boa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T198563A21909545 (assessed 2013).](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T198563A21909545.en)
27. [Wikidata. Stomias (Q457837) and Stomias boa (Q3427078).](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q457837)
28. [Hidalgo M, Browman HI (2019). Developing the knowledge base needed to sustainably manage mesopelagic resources. ICES Journal of Marine Science 76:609–615.](https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsz067)
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30. [United Nations. Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).](https://www.un.org/bbnjagreement/en)

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 15-35 cm
- **Weight:** 0.05-0.2 kg
- **Lifespan:** 10-15 years
- **Maximum Depth:** 2173 m
- **Water Type:** Saltwater

## Diet & Feeding

A deep-sea hunter that mostly eats other fish, plus some crustaceans. It sucks prey in, and its fangs stop it escaping.

- **Primary Foods:** Lanternfish, Hatchetfish, Bristlemouth, Small crustaceans
- **Foraging Method:** Ambush

## Ecological connections

- **Hunts:** [Lanternfish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lanternfish) (*Myctophidae*) — Lanternfish are small twilight-zone fish, the kind of prey dragonfish eat.
- **Hunts:** [Hatchetfish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hatchetfish) (*Sternoptychidae*) — Hatchetfish are small twilight-zone fish, also the kind of prey dragonfish eat.
- **Hunts:** [Bristlemouth](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bristlemouth) (*Cyclothone*) — Bristlemouths are tiny twilight-zone fish, also the kind of prey dragonfish eat.

## Traits

- [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
- [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range.
- [Deep Sea](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deep-sea): Deep sea habitats are characterized by extreme pressure, darkness, and cold temperatures, supporting unique life forms below the sunlit zone.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
- [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
- [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
- [Glowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/glowing): Pertaining to organisms that emit light through bioluminescence or fluorescence.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.

## Collections

- [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Dragonfish are not dangerous to humans, but they live in very deep parts of the ocean where it's hard for people to go.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Dragonfish?

Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Dragonfish?

15-35 cm

### How much does Dragonfish weigh?

0.05-0.2 kg

### How long does Dragonfish live?

10-15 years

### What does Dragonfish eat?

A deep-sea hunter that mostly eats other fish, plus some crustaceans. It sucks prey in, and its fangs stop it escaping.

### Where is Dragonfish usually found?

Deep Sea

### How does Dragonfish hunt?

Ambush

### How deep can Dragonfish go?

2173 m

## More Fish

- [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*)
- [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*)
- [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*)
- [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*)

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Source: [Dragonfish: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dragonfish)