Back to Meister's bizarre mirapinnid fish..... Alex, you were dead on with your reference to siphonophores. According to Rick Feeney, one of our fish guys, a number of juvenile fish have long trailing appendages with pigmented or bioluminescent organs that mimic siphonophores. They use them for disguise and/or to attract small crustaceans for food. As the fish grow they drop or re-absorb the appendages. Apparently the mirapinnids keep their appendages if undisturbed but they usually break off during collection.
Leslie
