Diaphus brachycephalus Tåning, 1928
Short-headed lantern fish
photo by Dubosc, J.

Family:  Myctophidae (Lanternfishes), subfamily: Diaphinae
Max. size:  6 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 200 - 600 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Circumglobal: In tropical to subtropical waters. Eastern Atlantic: Morocco to Angola. Western Atlantic: USA to Uruguay. Western Pacific: warmer waters and in Kuroshio (Japan Current). Indian Ocean: Mozambique Channel and Agulhas Current. Elsewhere, in the eastern Pacific. South China Sea (Ref.74511).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-14
Biology:  High-oceanic (Ref. 4479). Mesopelagic (Ref. 58302). Found between 175-550 m during the day and near the surface to about 225 m at night (Ref. 4066, 58302). Large males partially or non-migratory (Ref. 4066). Exhibits dwarfing in minimum region off Brazil with a maximum length of about 3.6 cm SL and sexual maturity from about 2.7 cm SL (Ref. 4479).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 July 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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