Brilliant Lightfish, Polymetme illustris McCulloch 1926
Illustration of a Brilliant Lightfish, Polymetme illustris. Source: McCulloch 1926 Report on some fishes obtained by the F. I. S. "Endeavour". License: Public Domain
Summary:
A lightfish with a dark brown back distinctly separated from the silvery sides, and a blackish gill cover.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2021, Polymetme illustris in Fishes of Australia, accessed 23 Jan 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/3934
Brilliant Lightfish, Polymetme illustris McCulloch 1926
More Info
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Distribution |
Coral Sea, east of Cape Tribulation, Queesland, to off Gabo Island, Victoria, and west to Great Australian Bight, Western Australia. The species is benthopelagic at depths to more than 800 m. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin 10–12; adipose; Anal fin 27–31; Pectoral fin 9–11; Pelvic fin 7; Gill rakers 18; Branchiostegal rays 12–14.Photophores: ORB 1, OP 3, SO 1, BR 9–10, IV 21, VAV 7–8, AC 18, IC 50–52, OA 9–10. Body depth 15–18% SL; head length 21–26% SL; eye diameter 4–6% SL. Length: to 26 cm. |
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Feeding |
Feeds mainly on zooplankton, especially crustaceans. |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin illustris (= bright, brilliant, lighted or lustrous), possibly in reference to the silvery sides ("Brown above, silvery on the sides; the junction of the two colours sharply defined."), or the serial photophores along the lower side. |
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Species Citation |
Polymetme illustris McCulloch 1926, Biol. Results ‘Endeavour’ 5(4): 167, Pl. 45 (fig. 1). Type locality: Great Australian Bight southwest of Eucla, Western Australia, 350–450 fms. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2021 |
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Resources |
Brilliant Lightfish, Polymetme illustris McCulloch 1926
References
Harold, A. 2020. Polymetme illustris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T141366179A141564371. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T141366179A141564371.en. Downloaded on 12 April 2021.
Harold, A.S. & Gomon, M.F. 2008. Family Phosichthyidae Lightfishes, pp. 235-239 in in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.
Last, P.R., Pogonoski, J.J., Gledhill, D.C. White, W.T. & Walker, C.J. 2014. The deepwater demersal ichthyofauna of the western Coral Sea. Zootaxa 3887(2): 191–224
McCulloch, A.R. 1926. Report on some fishes obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-Western Australia. Part 5. Biological Results of the Fishing Experiments carried on by the F.I.S. Endeavour 1909-1914 5(4): 157-216 figs 1-5 pls 43-56 See ref at BHL
Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 (misidentified as Yarrella corythaeola)
Norman, J.R. 1930. Oceanic fishes and flatfishes collected in 1925–1927. Discovery Reports 2: 261-370 figs 1-47 pls 1-2 (misidentified as Polymetme corythaeola, considered a senior synonym of P. illustris) See ref at BHL
Parin, N.V. & Borodulina, O.D. 1990. Review of the genus Polymetme (Photichthyidae) with the description of two new species. Voprosy Ikhtiologii 30(5): 733-743
