Dysomma brevirostre (Facciola, 1887)

Description: body very elongate, slender, compressed; anus far anterior. Snout tip and chin bulbous, ornamented with conspicuous papillae and ridges. Nostrils broad-based; anterior tubular, close to tip of snout, posterior in front of lower margin of eye, with a fleshy rim. Gape moderate. A transversaly oriented pair of teeth on premaxillary-ethmoid area, followed by a single row of 4 or 5 larger teeth, each set in individual pads of tissue on the vomer; lower jaw with 3 large teeth, widely spaced, followed by a uniserial row of tiny, close-set teeth; maxillary teeth reduced, acute and minute, uniserial. Gill openings small, parallel, close together on underside of head. Dorsal and anal fins confluent with caudal fin; dorsal fin origin slightly behind level of gill openings; pectoral fins absent. Lateral line present only on head and anterior part of trunk, with 8-10 pores, of which 4 or 5 before gill openings. Vertebrae: total 190-205; abdominal 67.

Color: back-brown, flanks and head darker; small dark patches all over body.

Size: to 26.5 cm.

Habitat: benthopelagic, on upper continental slope between 350 and 650 m, probably deeper.

Food: no data.

Reproduction: very few data; leptocephali known.