Lanternfish

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 16 - 18

Oceanic species occurring between 375-750 m during the day and between 40-225 m at night.

Oceanic species occurring between 375-750 m during the day and between 40-225 m at night.Reach sexual maturity at 7,6 cm (Ref. 47377).

Diaphus problematicus

This large tropical lanternfish (Backus et al., 1977) is most abundant in the Caribbean Sea (Nafpaktitis et al., 1977). Diaphus problematicus grows to 105 mm (Parin et al., 1977), maturing at about 64–78 mm; maximum size in the Ocean Acre collections was 79 mm. The few gravid or nearly gravid females and very young juveniles (11–12 mm) from the North Atlantic are mostly from the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea (Nafpaktitis, 1968). The species is rare in the study area; there are only 24 specimens in the Ocean Acre collections, 8 of which were taken during the paired seasonal cruises.

Juveniles were 32–48 mm, subadults 48–79 mm, and adults (all males) 68–75 mm. At sizes larger than about 55 mm males have noticeably larger Dn and Vn luminous organs than females.

The overall low abundance, the lack of adult females and small juveniles (11–12 mm), and the generally restricted geographical distribution of these stages in the Atlantic indicate that D. problematicus is not a breeding resident in the Ocean Acre.

Discrete-depth samples include four fish: two from night samples in late spring at 150 and 205 m; and two in late summer, one at about 625 m during the day, and the other at about 500 m near sunset.

Diaphus problematicus, the problematic lanternfish, is a species of lanternfish found worldwide.

Georges Bank to Brazil

nektonic

Known from seamounts and knolls