Myctophum nitidulum Garman, 1899
Pearly lanternfish
Myctophum nitidulum
photo by JAMARC

Family:  Myctophidae (Lanternfishes), subfamily: Myctophinae
Max. size:  8.3 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 412 - 1537 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  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).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal spines: 0-0; 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).
Biology:  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).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 July 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.