Ichthyococcus ovatus (Cocco, 1838)
Lightfish
Ichthyococcus ovatus
photo by Costa, F.

Family:  Phosichthyidae (Lightfishes)
Max. size:  8.5 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 8.4 g
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 2500 m
Distribution:  Circumglobal except North Pacific. Southwest Pacific: Australia (Ref. 7300) and New Zealand (Ref. 5755). Southeast Pacific: Chile (Ref. 9068). Eastern Atlantic: scattered records along Azores and the Mediterranean, from Portugal south to Canary Islands, also Namibia. Western Atlantic: between 20°N-45°N, including the Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 27768). South China Sea (Ref.74511).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 15-17. Brown-yellow in color, flanks silver; fin bases and edges of scale pockets black (Ref. 3988). Both dorsal and ventral adipose fins present (Ref. 3988). Short, deep body, small mouth with lower jaw, microscopic teeth and tubular eye (Ref. 37473).
Biology:  Does not exhibit diel vertical migrations (Ref. 4778). Spawning is probably year-round, peaking from late spring to early summer (Ref. 4778). Photophore complement complete at about 15-17 mm SL (Ref. 4778).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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