Scopelopsis Explained

Scopelopsis multipunctatus, the multispotted lanternfish, is a species of lanternfish. This species grows to a length of 9.5 cm (3.7 in).[1]

Description

Scopelopsis multipunctatus has round eyes, a long and slender body, and a forked homocercal caudal fin.[2]

Larvae

Scopelopsis multipunctatus' larvae are slender and range in size anywhere from 5-18 mm (0.2-0.7 in), with its head spanning about a quarter of the body length. Their eyes are large at younger stages and decrease in size relative to their head over time.

They develop a pattern of melanophores along the ventral side of the body, as well as the head, dorsal fin, and caudal fin, as they mature. Photophores also develop along the ventral half of the body during the larval stages of the multispotted lanternfish.

Distribution and habitat

Scopelopsis multipunctatus follow a subtropical zoogeographic pattern.[3] Its distribution is restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, ranging from 15-25° S in the Pacific Ocean and 23-29° S in the Indian Ocean.[4] [5]

They can be found in both warm and cold waters of the ocean.

Diet

The diet of Scopelopsis multipunctatus consists of copepods; amphipods and euphausiids; larval molluscs, ostracods, polychaetes, and siphonophores; and salps.

Notes and References

  1. Brandt. Stephen B.. 1981. Effects of a Warm-Core Eddy on Fish Distributions in the Tasman Sea Off East Australia. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 6. 19–33. 10.3354/meps006019. 1981MEPS....6...19B. ResearchGate. free.
  2. Moser. H. Geoffrey. 1972. DEVELOPMENT OF THE LANTERNFISH, SCOPELOPSIS MULTIPUNCTATUS BRAUER 1906, WITH A DISCUSSION OF ITS PHYLOGENETIC POSITION IN THE FAMILY MYCTOPHIDAE AND ITS ROLE IN A PROPOSED MECHANISM FOR THE EVOLUTION OF PHOTOPHORE PATTERNS IN LANTERNFISHES. Fishery Bulletin. 70. 541–564. NOAA.
  3. Rubiés. Pere. 1985. Zoogeography of the Lanternfishes (Osteichthyes, Myctophidae) of Southwest Africa. Instituto de Investigaciones Pesqueras. 1. 573–586. CSIC Research.
  4. Book: Wisner, Robert L.. The taxonomy and distribution of lantern fishes (family Myctophidae) of the eastern Pacific Ocean. Navy Ocean Research and Development Activity. 1976. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. 1–299.
  5. Book: Nafpaktitis, B. G.. Lantern fishes (Family Myctophidae) collected during cruises 3 and 6 of the R/V Anton Bruun in the Indian Ocean. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. 1969. 1–79.