Stareater
Small deep-sea fish with a red glowing lure
Stareaters are small deep-sea fish in the genus Astronesthes. They use a bioluminescent red chin barbel to lure prey. These stomiid fish have delicate skin and sharp curved teeth.
- Uses a red glowing chin barbel as a lure
- Has delicate skin and sharp curved teeth
- Contains 48 recognized species in the genus
- Lives in the deep sea environment
What it is
Stareaters, also known as snaggletooths, are small fish belonging to the genus Astronesthes. They are part of the stomiid family. These creatures live in the deep sea. They have delicate skin that is easily damaged. Their mouths contain many sharp teeth. These teeth are needlelike and curve inward. A distinctive feature is the chin barbel. This appendage glows with red light.
Where it lives
These fish inhabit the deep ocean. They are found in dark waters far below the surface. The genus includes forty-eight recognized species. Fossil evidence suggests they have existed for millions of years. Remains from the Middle Eocene in Georgia were once linked to this group. They are now classified under a different genus called Azemiolestes. A potential fossil from Iran dates to the Late Eocene or Early Oligocene.
How it lives
Stareaters are predators in the deep sea. They hunt small prey items. The fish use a specialized hunting strategy. A red bioluminescent barbel hangs from their chin. This light acts as a lure. It attracts curious small animals into striking distance. Once prey is close, the fish snaps its jaws. The sharp curved teeth secure the catch. Their delicate skin requires care in such high-pressure environments.
Questions people ask about Stareater
What is a stareater fish?
A stareater is a small deep-sea fish in the genus Astronesthes. It is also called a snaggletooth. These fish are known for their sharp teeth and glowing lure.
How do stareaters catch their food?
They use a bioluminescent red chin barbel. This light attracts small prey close to the mouth. The fish then strikes quickly to capture the animal.
Where do stareaters live?
These fish live in the deep sea. They inhabit dark ocean waters where sunlight does not reach. There are forty-eight recognized species in this group.
Good reading and sources
- Stareater (fish) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Stareater (fish)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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