View data on Catalog of Fishes here.
Body elongate, tail slender; eyes normal; mouth large; premaxillary teeth uniserial, dentary teeth biserial anteriorly; gill rakers on first arch 11–13 + 46 = 15–19; branchiostegal rays 12, 4 on epihyal. Dorsal-fin rays 10 –12, followed by a dorsal adipose fin long based, situated slightly posterior to anal midpoint; pectoral finrays 8; pelvic finrays 6–7, its base well in advance of dorsal fin origin; anal-fin rays 24–26, its origin about beneath or anterior to dorsal midpoint, its base length more than twice dorsal fin base; last dorsal- and anal- fin rays usually split to base. Vertebrae 43–44. Photophores (adult): ORB 2; SO l; BR 8; OP 3; IV 21–22 VAV 7–9; AC 18–21, eighth and/or ninth AC photophore(s) slightly elevated; AC level, 13–15 over anal fin; OA 19–21. Glandular material absent on head and body. Color dark. flanks silvery.
For a key to photophore terminology, click here.
The only known species of the genus, P. mauli is distinguished form all other phosichthyids on the basis of the following characters: anal-fin base more than twice dorsal-fin base; anal-fin rays 22–30, AC photophores 19–21, 13–15 over anal fin; eighth and/or nith IV photophore(s) slightly elevated
Circumglobal, subropical and tropical waters.
Oceanic and mesopelagic; pre-metamorphic and post-larvae near surface; juveniles and adults centred at 300–600 m by day; a diel vertical migrator; majority of juveniles and adults migrate into upper 200 m at night.
Badcock J. 1984. Photichthyidae. pp. 318–324. In: P.J.P. Whitehead MLB, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen, and E. Tortonese editor. Fishes of the Northeastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Paris: UNESCO. p 1473 pp.
Badcock J. 1984. Photichthyidae. pp. 318–324. In: P.J.P. Whitehead MLB, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen, and E. Tortonese editor. Fishes of the Northeastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Paris: UNESCO. p 1473 pp.
To 60 mm SL.
30 miles southwest of Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo, South Atlantic, 5°15'S, 11°29'E, depth 225–240 meters.
Holotype: IRSNB 134.
