Hygophum reinhardtii (Lütken, 1892)
Reinhardt's lantern fish
photo by SFSA

Family:  Myctophidae (Lanternfishes), subfamily: Myctophinae
Max. size:  6 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 1050 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Morocco to Namibia (gap over region of cyclonic gyre 4°-6°S). Western Atlantic: USA to Subtropical Convergence, [but absent over minimum region off Brazil according to Ref. 4479] and lower abundance in Sargasso Sea. Also in the southern Indian Ocean, North and South Pacific (absent in equatorial waters). South China Sea (Ref.74511).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 21-25; Vertebrae: 38-40. Branchiostegal rays: 8-9 (Ref. 31442). Anal organs 14-15; males with single supracaudal gland filling about 1/2 the supracaudal space, females with 3 coalesced infracaudal gland patches, sometimes separate (Ref. 39633).
Biology:  Oceanic, found below 1,000 m during the day and from the surface to 200 m at night (Ref. 4479). Neustonic to mesopelagic (Ref. 58302). Oviparous, with planktonic eggs and larvae (Ref. 31442). Lipid content is 3.3 % in fresh body weight and wax ester is 10 % in total lipids (Ref. 9197). Reach sexual maturity at 4,6 cm (Ref. 47377).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 July 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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