Teleostei (teleosts) >
Myctophiformes (Lanternfishes) >
Myctophidae (Lanternfishes) > Myctophinae
Etymology: Myctophum: Greek, mykter, -eros = nose + Greek, ophis = serpent (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Garman.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 412 - 1537 m (Ref. 27311). Deep-water; 42°N - 52°S, 112°E - 117°W
Circumglobal (Ref. 7300) in all tropical and subtropical waters (Ref. 47377). Eastern Atlantic: Morocco to South Africa (as expatriates in Agulhas water pockets). Western Atlantic: between about 42°N and 34°S. Indian Ocean: between 7°N and 24°S. Pacific Ocean: between 32°N and 31°S, but extends northward to 40°N in the Kuroshio Current. South China Sea (Ref.74511).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 6 - ? cm
Max length : 8.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4479)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 0;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 12-14;
Anal
spines: 0;
Anal
soft rays: 18 - 21;
Vertebrae: 36 - 39. Branchiostegal rays: 9-10 (Ref. 31442). Anal organs 14; male supracaudal gland has 5-8, female infracaudal gland with 2-6 small, round to oblong spots, respectively; may be distinguished from all other Myctophum possessing cycloid scales by its angulate, non-serrate, posterodorsal margin of the operculum (Ref. 39633).
High-oceanic, nyctoepipelagic at the surface and to 950 m and generally found between 475-850 m during the day (Ref. 4479). Neustonic to mesopelagic (Ref. 58302). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 31442). Lipid content is 3.8 % in fresh body weight and wax ester is 10.6 % in total lipids (Ref. 9193). Females reach sexual maturity at 4.8 cm, males at 3.5 cm (Ref. 47377).
Hulley, P.A., 1990. Myctophidae. p. 398-467. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI; Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 1. (Ref. 4479)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 126983)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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