Prickly lanternfish

Myctophum asperum

''Myctophum asperum'', common name the prickly lanternfish, is a species of deep sea fish in the family Myctophidae, the "lanternfish".
Composite: The Prickly Lanternfish (Myctophum asperum) The Prickly Lanternfish (Myctophum asperum) has beautiful scale colors and a distinctive arrangement of photophores along the flanks. These photophores undoubtedly assist these fishes with same species identification in the dark depths where they are found. Photographed in the Gulf of Mexico during the DEEPEND project (www.deependconsortium.org). Deep Sea,Gulf of Mexico,Life in the dark,Myctophidae,Myctophum asperum,Prickly Lanternfish,bioluminescence,deep scattering layer,deep sea species,mesopelagic zone,midnight zone,photophores,species recognition

Appearance

This species has large eyes, and grows to a maximum length of approximately 8.5 cm.

Distribution

''Myctophum asperum'' is found in the following regions:

⤷ Western Atlantic Ocean from 20° north to Brazil, and also occurs in the Gulf of Mexico.
⤷ Eastern Atlantic Ocean, occurring from Mauritania to South Africa in the Agulhas water pockets.
⤷ Northwest Atlantic near Canada.
⤷ Indo-Pacific in both the following currents:
⟶ *North and south equatorial currents
⟶ *Equatorial countercurrents
⟶ *East Australian and Agulhas currents
⤷ Eastern Central Pacific.
⤷ South China Sea and East China Sea

Larvae have also been found in the Taiwan Strait.

Habitat

This species is found at depths of between 425 and 750 metres during the day. At night it can descend to depths of 125 metres to feed on plankton.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderMyctophiformes
FamilyMyctophidae
GenusMyctophum
SpeciesM. asperum
Photographed in
United States of America