- Myctophum asperum
-
Myctophum asperum Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Myctophiformes Family: Myctophidae Genus: Myctophum Species: M. asperum Binomial name Myctophum asperum
Richardson, 1845[1][2]Synonyms see text
Myctophum asperum, common name the prickly lanternfish,[3] is a species of deep sea fish in the family Myctophidae, the "lanternfish".
Contents
Description
This species has large eyes, and grows to a maximum length of approximately 8.5 cm.[4][2]
Distribution
Myctophum asperum is found in the following regions:[4]
- 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.[4]
Habitat
This species is found at depths of between 425 and 750 metres during the day.[4] At night it can descend to depths of 125 metres to feed on plankton.[2]
Synomyms
- Dasyscopelus asper (Richardson, 1845)
- Dasyscopelus naufragus Waite, 1904
- Scopelus asper (Richardson, 1845)[1][2]
References
External links
Categories:- Myctophidae
- Ray-finned fish stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.