![]() ![]() These surface waters, usually above 330 feet (100 meters), are rich in food. They move from middle depths into very shallow surface waters at night to feed and to lay their eggs. Little is known about the behavior of lanternfishes. Plankton are microscopic plants and, in this case, animals drifting in water. Crustaceans are water-dwelling animals that have jointed legs and a hard shell but no backbone. Some eat crustacean (krus-TAY-shun) plankton. Scientists do not know much about the feeding habits of lanternfishes. Larval or young lanternfishes live near the surface, mainly between about 160 and 800 feet (50 to 250 meters). Several lanternfishes are thought to live near, but not in contact with, the bottom at some point in life. Some may enter the upper part of the deep-water region. HABITATĪs adults most lanternfishes live in the middle depths of the open ocean, usually between 660 and 3,330 feet (200 and 1,000 meters). Lanternfishes live all over the world except the Arctic Ocean. The rays, or supporting rods, of all lanternfish fins are soft. The pectoral fins of the flabby-bodied species are so small and delicate that they are almost unnoticeable. Some species have long, sweeping pectoral (PECK-ter-uhl) fins, which are the front pair, corresponding to the front legs of four-footed animals. The dorsal (DOOR-suhl) fin is the fin along the midline of the back. The light-producing organs on freshly captured lanternfishes appear silver, reddish, or deep blue.Īll lanternfishes have an adipose (ADD-uh-pohs) fin, which is a short fin between the dorsal fin and the tail fin. Some deep-dwelling lanternfishes are dark brown or black. Lanternfishes are brilliant metallic bronze to dark blue-black on the back and have mirrorlike silvery sides and belly. One is a strong, firmly muscled body, and the other is a watery, flabby body with a weak skeleton and muscles. These fishes have two general body types. The jaws of lanternfishes have many tiny teeth. The most common lanternfishes look like anchovies and sometimes are called glowing anchovies. Lanternfishes are small, about 3 inches (8 centimeters) long. In addition to light-producing organs, many lanternfishes have glowing scales and glands. These organs are arranged in patterns that vary according to species. Lanternfishes have many light-producing organs covering their bodies. LANTERNFISHES: Myctophiformes SKINNYCHEEK LANTERNFISH ( Benthosema pterotum): SPECIES ACCOUNT PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ![]()
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