Myctophum affine (Lütken, 1892)
Metallic lantern fish
Myctophum affine
photo by Dolgov, A.

Family:  Myctophidae (Lanternfishes), subfamily: Myctophinae
Max. size:  7.9 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 600 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Mauritania to the Angola Current. Western Atlantic: 45°N in the Gulf Stream to tropical waters. Also, recorded off La Plata river mouth. Western Atlantic: Bermuda, southern Canada to Florida (USA), Gulf of Mexico and southern Caribbean (Ref. 26938), round the Subtropical Convergence (Ref. 47377).
Diagnosis:  Ctenoid scales and upper part of opercle rounded (Ref. 26938).
Biology:  High-oceanic, nyctoepipelagic at the surface and down to 275 m and found between 300-600 m during the day (Ref. 4479). Feeds on plankton (Ref. 26938). Females reach sexual maturity at 4.2 cm (Ref. 47377).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 July 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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