| Family: |
Myctophidae (Lanternfishes), subfamily: Myctophinae |
| Max. size: |
10 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 2000 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Indian Ocean: 18°N-20°S, to 42°S in the Agulhas Current. Pacific Ocean: 21°N-10°S. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 18-20; Vertebrae: 31-32. Anal organs 10-11; mature males have large 3 to 5 translucent supracaudal gland and smaller infracaudal gland; mature females have small supracaudal gland and much smaller infracaudal patches (Ref. 39633). |
| Biology: |
Benthopelagic and mesopelagic in slope and oceanic waters, but usually not high-oceanic. Occurs in the upper 200 m at night (Ref. 4066). Epipelagic in nearshore areas at 0-856 m (Ref. 58302). Occasionally seen during dark nights on slopes that are near very deep water. Attracted by light like moths, becoming disoriented and darting frantically in all directions (Ref. 48635). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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