Smooth Dreamer

Chaenophryne draco is sexually dimorphic, and dreamers in the genus Chaenophryne are distinguished from other dreamers by both the metamorphosed males and females. They are further distinguished from other genera of Oneirodidae by the long and slender suboperculum which has a tapering point at its upper end, and by having a slightly concave rear edge to the operculum. The metamorphosed females do not have any sphenotic spines, although there are blunt ridges on the parietal and post-temporal bones. The rear edge of the frontal bone is highly curved. They have pigmented skin which clearly extends past the base of the caudal fin. They have a pigmented snout, the rear nostril is separate from the eye, and there are 17-27 teeth on the lower denticular. In this species there are between 6 and 8 soft rays in the dorsal fin and 5 or 6 soft rays in the anal fin. The caudal fin is large and the pectoral fins are limb-like and directed upwards. The overall colour is black apart from the pale esca. The esca differs from those of congeners by having no anteriolateral appendages and in the higher ratio of upper denticular teeth to lower denticular teeth. Its size range is unknown, but it is thought to grow from 8.3 to 12.3 cm (3.3 to 4.8 in) in length based on two unsexed individuals and one female individual.

Chaenophryne draco is found in the non-polar oceans throughout the world, between 44°N and 42°S in the bathypelagic zone at depths of 350 to 1,750 m (1,150 to 5,740 ft).

Chaenophryne draco belongs to the genus Chaenophryne, this name being a combination of chaeno, which means "gape", with phryne, meaning "toad". What this name alludes to was not explained by Regan, but the first part may refer to the wide mouth of C. longiceps. The second part is a suffix commonly used in the names of anglerfish genera. Its use for these fishes may date as far back as Aristotle and Cicero, who referred to anglerfishes as "fishing-frogs" and "sea-frogs", respectively, possibly because of their resemblance to frogs and toads. The specific name, draco, means "dragon", an allusion which Beebe did not explain.