Following the volcanic eruption of April 2007, nine specimens of Argyripnus (family Sternoptychidae, order Stomiiformes) were among the fish caught at the sea surface at Reunion Island (Indian Ocean). Seven species were described in this genus: A. ephippiatus Gilbert & Cramer, 1897 from Hawaii, A. iridescens McCulloch, 1926 from Australia. A. atlanticus Maul, 1952 from Madeira, A. brocki Struhsaker, 1973 from Hawaii, Argyripnus sp. Yamamoto in Okamura et al., 1982 from Japan, A. electronus Parin, 1992 from the South-east Pacific and A. pharos Harold & Lancaster, 2003 from the Indian Ocean and the central-west Pacific. The Argyripnus from Reunion Island is easily distinguished from the other species by the position of the anus just before the beginning of the anal fin (about half distance between the pelvic base and the beginning of the anal fin in the other species). The new Argyripnus from Reunion Island is described under the name A. hulleyi. Some indications are given on the bathymetric and geographical distributions of all the Argyripnus species. After a brief comparison of the characteristics of the seven species, an identification key is provided.