Stomioides nicholsi Parr 1933

Description—

The chief anatomical character separating Stomioides from Stomias is the structure of the chin barbel. In Stomias this terminates in three simple filaments. But in Stomioides it not only has these barbels, but the main trunk is swollen at the tip and has two additional filaments on one side a little inward from its tip. Another difference is that the point of origin of the anal fin is in advance of the origin of the dorsal fin by a distance about as great as the diameter of the eye in Stomioides, whereas the point of origin of the anal fin is about even with that of the dorsal in [page 148] Stomias. Stomioides resembles Stomias in all other respects so closely that should a specimen of either be taken, that is not easily identified, we suggest forwarding it to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for naming.

Color—

Black below as well as above, the luminescent organs showing as whitish dots.

Size—

The only specimen yet seen is about 10½ inches long, from tip of snout to base of tail fin.

Range and occurrence in the Gulf of Maine—

The only known specimen of this species was taken from the stomach of a swordfish harpooned from the schooner Barbara, Capt. C. A. Turner, on the southeastern edge of Browns Bank,^[46] over the 250 fathom line, August 3, 1932. Presumably it had strayed from the mid-depths offshore.