| Family: |
Phosichthyidae (Lightfishes) |
| Max. size: |
5.5 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 2.1 g |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 20 - 5000 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Central Atlantic: Florida (USA), Cuba and the Antilles, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean (Ref. 26340). Eastern Atlantic: 42°N to the tropical region. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Indo-Pacific. 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. Dorsum dark, flanks silvery; upper pectoral and outer caudal speckled (Ref. 3988). Two suborbital photophores present, anal fin originated beneath the middle or latter half of the dorsal fin (Ref. 37473). |
| Biology: |
Epi- to abyssopelagic (Ref. 58302) but usually mesopelagic, mainly found at 200-400 m by day and upper 100 m by night (Ref. 4778). Both juveniles and adults exhibit diel vertical migration (Ref. 4778). Feeds mainly on copepods, feeding intensively in the afternoon to early evening (Ref. 4778). Adult photophore complement attained at about 18-20 mm SL (Ref. 4778). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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