Flatface Lanternfish, Diaphus perspicillatus (Ogilby 1898)


Other Names: Transparent Lantern Fish

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2022, Diaphus perspicillatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 12 Oct 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/3097

Flatface Lanternfish, Diaphus perspicillatus (Ogilby 1898)

More Info


Distribution

Off Port Gregory to off Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia, and NE of Cairns, Queensland, to off Batemans Bay, New South Wales; also the Lord Howe Province and Norfolk Island region in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere the species is circumglobal in tropical to temperate seas, except for the Eastern Pacific.
An oceanic, mesopelagic species that undertakes daily vertical migrations from 375-750 m during the day, to feed in the upper 0-125 m at night.

Etymology

The specific name is from the Latin perspicillatus (spectacled), 'in reference to the pair of supernumerary photophores in front of the eyes'.

Species Citation

Aethoprora perspicillata Ogilby 1898, Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 23(1): 36. Type locality: Lord Howe Island.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2022

Resources

Atlas of Living Australia

Flatface Lanternfish, Diaphus perspicillatus (Ogilby 1898)

References


Brauer, A. 1904. Die Gattung Myctophum. Zoologischer Anzeiger 28(10): 377-404. (described as Myctophum (Nyctophus) elucens)  See ref at BHL

Hulley, P.A. 1986. Order Myctophiformes. pp. 282-322 in Smith, M.M. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Smith's Sea Fishes. Johannesburg : Macmillan South Africa xx + 1047 pp. 144 pls.

Hulley, P. 2015. Diaphus perspicillatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T15598778A15603720. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T15598778A15603720.en. Downloaded on 30 July 2020.

Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [265]

Ogilby, J.D. 1898. New genera and species of fishes. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales23(1): 32-41 See ref at BHL

Paxton, J.R. & Hulley, P.A. 1999. Myctophidae. pp. 1957-1965 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.

Robertson, D,A, & Clements, K.D. 2015. 89 Family Myctophidae, pp. 613-680 in Roberts, C.D., Stewart, A.L. & Struthers, C.D. The Fishes of New Zealand. Wellington : Te Papa Press Vol. 3 pp. 577-1152.

Young, J.W., Lamb, T.D. & Bradford, R.W. 1996. Distribution and community structure of midwater fishes in relation to the subtropical convergence off eastern Tasmania, Australia. Marine Biology 126(4): 571-584.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37122008

Biology:Bioluminescent

Conservation:IUCN Least Concern

Depth:0-750 m

Habitat:Oceanic, mesopelagic

Max Size:7 cm SL

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map