Dragonfish

The **dragonfish** is in the family of **Stomiids.** The dragonfish are long fish with black or near-black bodies, some can come in white too. The largest dragonfishes are about 16 inches in length, with most being about half that. Most dragonfish don't have any scales, and have numerous small light-producing photophores scattered over their bodies. In some dragonfish, a larger photophore dangles from a barbel attached to the lower jaw, as a lure to attract prey. Many species also have photophores attached to the pectoral fins, which are highly mobile, allowing the light to be moved about. They are predators, eating smaller fish, and have greatly enlarged, fang-like, teeth. Their gut is heavily colored, so that any bioluminescent organs in their prey cannot shine through their bodies and attract larger predators. Like many other deep-water fishes, the dragonfish produce floating eggs that float up into the surface waters to hatch. The larvae live among the plankton close to the surface, and only swim down to the depths when they begin to take on adult form. Some species are known to be able to change from male to female as they age, increasing their chances of finding a mate.

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