| Family: |
Myctophidae (Lanternfishes), subfamily: Diaphinae |
| Max. size: |
6 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 25 - 800 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: southwest of Ireland and Bay of Biscay to Mauritania and from Gabon to Namibia including some records in the Mediterranean. Western Atlantic: USA to the Antilles (Ref. 26340) and Argentina, but absent between 17°-3°N east of 30°W. Indian Ocean: 2°N - 25°S, east of 75°E. Western Pacific: between Japan and Australia (Ref. 4775); also New Zealand (Ref. 5755). Eastern Pacific: Nazca ridge, Peru (Ref. 45845). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-18; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 13-15. Anal organs 10-11; mature males have supracaudal gland consisting of a series of 6 large, well-defined scale-like structures flanked by 5 pairs of smaller, triangular ones; the infracaudal gland of mature females consists of 2 heart-shaped scales; flanked by smaller, triangular luminous scales (Ref. 39633). |
| Biology: |
High-oceanic and mesopelagic (Ref. 4066), found between 300-800 m during the day and between 25-100 m (juveniles 14-22 mm) and 200-300 (adults 50-56 mm) at night (Ref. 4479). Size stratification with depth both day and night (Ref. 4775). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 31442). Reach sexual maturity between 40 and 45 cm (Ref. 47377). Also Ref. 58302. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 July 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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