| Family: |
Myctophidae (Lanternfishes), subfamily: Myctophinae |
| Max. size: |
6 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 1050 m, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: Morocco to Namibia (gap over region of cyclonic gyre 4°-6°S). Western Atlantic: USA to Subtropical Convergence, [but absent over minimum region off Brazil according to Ref. 4479] and lower abundance in Sargasso Sea. Also in the southern Indian Ocean, North and South Pacific (absent in equatorial waters). South China Sea (Ref.74511). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 21-25; Vertebrae: 38-40. Branchiostegal rays: 8-9 (Ref. 31442). Anal organs 14-15; males with single supracaudal gland filling about 1/2 the supracaudal space, females with 3 coalesced infracaudal gland patches, sometimes separate (Ref. 39633). |
| Biology: |
Oceanic, found below 1,000 m during the day and from the surface to 200 m at night (Ref. 4479). Neustonic to mesopelagic (Ref. 58302). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 31442). Lipid content is 3.3 % in fresh body weight and wax ester is 10 % in total lipids (Ref. 9197). Reach sexual maturity at 4,6 cm (Ref. 47377). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 July 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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