| Family: |
Phosichthyidae (Lightfishes) |
| Max. size: |
4.5 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 100 - 2000 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic. Eastern Atlantic: Portugal south to Congo and South Africa, including the Mediterranean. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Indian Ocean: off Inhaca Island, Mozambique (Ref. 3988). Southeast Pacific: Chile (Ref. 9068). South China Sea (Ref.74511) |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 13-16. Dark dorsum, silvery flanks; lower jaw symphysis, premaxilla and fin rays lacking pigment streaks (Ref. 3988). |
| Biology: |
Mesopelagic species, found at 250-600 m during the day and 100-500 m at night (Ref. 4778, 58302). Both juveniles and adults make short diel vertical migrations (Ref. 4778). Feeds on small crustaceans (Ref. 4778). Adult photophore complement attained at about 20 mm SL (Ref. 4778). Spawns in spring and early summer (Ref. 37473). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
