Myctophum punctatum explained

Myctophum punctatum is a species of mesopelagic fish in the family Myctophidae. Its common name is spotted lanternfish, sometimes spelled spotted lanterfish. It is found in the Northern Atlantic and in the Mediterranean at depths down to 1000m. It is one of the dominant species in midwater assemblages near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.^[1]

Myctophum punctatum can grow to 11cm (04inches) SL. It performs diurnal migrations to the surface at dusk.^[2] It feeds mostly on copepods and euphausiids.^[3]

Larvae of Myctophum punctatum have stalked eyes.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Sutton . T. T. . Porteiro . F. M. . Heino . M. . Byrkjedal . I. . Langhelle . G. . Anderson . C. I. H. . Horne . J. . Søiland . H. . Falkenhaug . T. . Godø . O. R. . Bergstad . O. A. . Vertical structure, biomass and topographic association of deep-pelagic fishes in relation to a mid-ocean ridge system . 10.1016/j.dsr2.2007.09.013 . Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography . 55 . 1–2 . 161–184 . 2008 . 2008DSRII..55..161S .
2. 10.1017/S0025315400013072. Spectral composition of the light of the lantern-fish, Myctophum punctatum. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 39. 27–32. 2009. Nicol . J. A. C.. 3562442.
3. Scotto di Carlo, B. . G. Costanzo . E. Fresi . L. Guglielmo . A. Ianora . 1982. Feeding ecology and stranding mechanisms in two lanternfishes, Hygophum benoiti and Myctophum punctatum. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 9. 13–24. 10.3354/meps009013. 1982MEPS....9...13S. free.
4. 10.1007/s11160-010-9176-4. A review on mesopelagic fishes belonging to family Myctophidae. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries. 21. 3. 339–354. 2010. Catul . V. . Gauns . M. . Karuppasamy . P. K.. 42988401.