Opaline Lanternfish

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 17 - 22

Benthopelagic and mesopelagic in slope and near continental and island waters. Found in 130-300 m during the day and in 10-200 m at night (Ref. 4066). Feeds in the evening (Ref. 9191). Feeds on mainly on copepods and various crustacean larvae.

Benthopelagic and mesopelagic in slope and near continental and island waters (Ref. 9835, 11230). Found in 130-300 m during the day and in 10-200 m at night (Ref. 4066). Feeds in the evening (Ref. 9191). Feeds on mainly on copepods and various crustacean larvae. Lipid content is 4.6 % in fresh body weight (Ref. 8966).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

分布於世界三大洋之熱帶及亞熱帶沿岸海域。臺灣則發現於西南部、東部及東沙群島等周邊水域。

一般以底拖網捕獲，不具食用經濟價值，通常做為下雜魚用。

體延長，側扁。頭中大。吻鈍圓而微突。眼大。口頗大，上頜骨狹長，末端擴大而延伸至前鰓蓋後緣；上下頜、鋤骨、腭骨、中翼骨及舌面均具銳利小齒。體被弱圓鱗，易脫落；側線平直。背鰭單一，位於體中部，具軟條12-14(通常為13)，後部另具一脂鰭；臀鰭基底明顯長於背鰭基底，具軟條17-20(通常為18)；尾鰭叉形，尾鰭副鰭條柔軟。各部位之發光器位置於下：鼻部背位發光器(Dn)小型，或不顯；鼻部腹位發光器(Vn)無；眶下位發光器(So)無；鰓蓋位發光器(Op)2個，位於前鰓蓋後緣，其中Op2位於眼下緣縱線下方；鰓被架位發光器(Br)3個；胸鰭上方發光器(PLO)位於側線與胸鰭基的中間，略接近側線處；胸鰭下方發光器(PVO)2個，兩者均呈水平狀，與PO1不同在一直線上；胸部發光器(PO)5個，5個幾呈水平狀，最後1個不昇高；腹部發光器(VO)4個，VO2位於VO1及VO3之間的上方，在PVO及SAO1水平線的下方；腹鰭上位發光器(VLO)位於腹鰭和側線之間，接近側線處；臀鰭上方發光器(SAO)3個，三者排列呈鈍角狀，SAO1位於VO3和第VO4間的上方，SAO3緊臨側線的下方；體後側位發光器(Pol)1個，位於脂鰭下方，與側線約有其1/2直徑距離；臀鰭前部發光器(AOa)6個，沿臀鰭基底水平狀排列；臀鰭後部發光器(AOp)4個，沿尾柄腹側狀排列，其間距大於發光器的直徑；尾鰭前位發光器(Prc)2個，Prc2位置昇高，在側線下緣。

主要棲息於大陸棚斜坡、徒坡或島坡等的中、底層巡游魚類，具日夜垂直分布習性，白天棲息於130-300公尺處，晚上則於水深10-200公尺處覓食，以橈腳類或其它甲殼類的幼生為食。

Benthosema pterotum, also known as the skinnycheek lanternfish and opaline lanternfish, is a species of fish in the family Myctophidae. It is found in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. It is dominant species in the mesopelagic of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It is a minor fishery species.

Benthosema pterotum grows to 7 cm (2.8 in) total length.

Inhabits slope and near continental/island waters (Ref. 9835). Feeds in the evening/night (Ref. 9191). Copepods and various crustacean larvae seem to be the dominant food items. Lipid content is 4.6 % in fresh body weight (Ref. 8966).