Family MYCTOPHIDAE
Lantern Fishes, Lanternfishes
Compiler and date details
John R. Paxton, Jennifer E. Gates & Douglass F. Hoese
Introduction
Members of the Myctophidae, commonly known as lanternfishes, are found in the open waters of all oceans. Some 250 species in 32 genera are currently recognised (Paxton et al. 1984; Paxton & Hulley 1999). The described Australian fauna totals 99 species in 26 genera. An undescribed species of Lampanyctus from Australia, similar to L. festivus, is known from six specimens held in the Australian Museum from Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.
Most myctophids undertake vertical migrations from their diurnal depths of 400–1000 m to the upper 100 m at night, some even reaching the surface waters. A few species are benthopelagic over the outer shelves and/or slopes as adults. Crustaceans and small fishes are the primary prey items, although a few specialised forms feed on pelagic molluscs. Lanternfishes are characterised by the presence of external light organs or photophores on the head and body, usually in non-linear series, a moderate to large eye, a jaw that reaches to or beyond the posterior margin of the eye, small teeth (never fang-like), scales, a short to moderate-sized body, an adipose fin and abdominal pelvic fins. The nearest relation is the family Neoscopelidae. Most species do not exceed 12.5 cm (some mature at less than 3 cm), but 28 cm is the maximum reached by an Antarctic species.
The only worldwide revision of lanternfishes in the last 50 years is that by Becker (1983). Paxton (1972, 1979) revised the genera and listed the valid species. The most useful works for identifying Australian species are two papers on Indian Ocean lanternfishes by Nafpaktitis & Nafpaktitis (1969) and Nafpaktitis (1978). However, an unpublished key to Australian species by Paxton & Williams is available. Paxton & Hulley (1999) provided a key to western central Pacific genera and Hulley (1990) detailed the Southern Ocean lanternfishes. Becker & Shcherbachev (1990), Becker (1992) and Nafpaktitis et al. (1995) treated selected species of Diaphus. Larval development in the family was reviewed by Moser et al. (1984).
The previous Australian records of the Antarctic Lanternfish, Electrona antarctica, recorded by Waite (1916), Munro (1961: 38(269)) and Whitley (1964: 37(453)), are based on a specimen collected from more than 320 km south of Australia (45°S, 138°E).
General References
Becker, V.E. 1983. Myctophid Fishes of the World Ocean. Moscow : Science Publishers 248 pp. 102 figs. [in Russian]
Becker, V.E. 1992. Benthopelagic fishes of the genera Idiolychnus and Diaphus (Myctophidae) from the eastern South Pacific Ocean, with the description of two new species. Voprosy Ikhtiologii 32(6): 3-10 [in Russian, English transl. in J. Ichthyol. 1993, v. 33 (no. 3):20-29]
Becker, V.E. & Shcherbachev, Y.N. 1990. Benthopelagic species of the families Neoscopelidae and Myctophidae from the Indian Ocean, with a description of a new species of Diaphus. Voprosy Ikhtiologii 30(5): 835-855 [in Russian, English transl. in J. Ichthyol. v. 30 (7):122-134]
Hulley, P.A. 1990. Family Myctophidae. pp. 146-178 in Gon, O. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Fishes of the Southern Ocean. Grahamstown : J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology 462 pp.
Moser, H.G., Ahlstrom, E.H. & Paxton, J.R. 1984. Myctophidae: development. pp. 218-239 figs 114-124 in Moser, H.G. et al. (eds). Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Publication 1: 1-760
Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961]
Nafpaktitis, B.G. 1978. Systematics and distribution of lanternfishes of the genera Lobianchia and Diaphus (Myctophidae) in the Indian Ocean. Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Science Bulletin 30: 1-92 figs 1-82
Nafpaktitis, B.G., Robertson, D.A. & Paxton, J.R. 1995. Four new species of the lanternfish genus Diaphus (Myctophidae) from the Indo-Pacific. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 29(3): 335-344
Nafpaktitis, B.G. & Nafpaktitis, M. 1969. Lanternfishes (family Myctophidae) collected during cruises 3 and 6 of the R/V Anton Bruun in the Indian Ocean. Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Science Bulletin 5: 1-79 figs 1-82
Paxton, J.R. 1972. Osteology and relationships of the lanternfishes (family Myctophidae). Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Science Bulletin 13: 1-81 figs 1-22
Paxton, J.R. 1979. Nominal genera and species of lanternfishes (family Myctophidae). Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Contributions in Science 322: 1-28
Paxton, J.R., Ahlstrom, E.H. & Moser, H.G. 1984. Myctophidae: relationships. pp. 239-244 figs 125-126 in Moser, H.G. et al. (eds). Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Publication 1: 1-760
Paxton, J.R. & Hulley, P.A. 1999. Families Neoscopelidae. pp. 1955-1956 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068.
Waite, E.R. 1916. Fishes. Scientific Reports of the Australasian Antarctic Research Expedition, 1911-1914 C 3(1): 1-92 figs 1-16 pls 1-5
Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127
Common Name References
Paxton, J.R. & Hulley, P.A. 1999. Families Neoscopelidae. pp. 1955-1956 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068. [1957] (FAO) (Lanternfishes)
Whitley, G.P. 1966. Marine Fishes of Australia. Brisbane : Jacaranda Press Vol. 1 pp. 1-142. [36] (Lantern Fishes)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |