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Myctophiformes (Lanternfishes) >
Myctophidae (Lanternfishes) > Myctophinae
Etymology: Krefftichthys: Named for Dr. Gerhard Krefft (Institut fur Seefischerei, Hamburg) for his pioneering work and contributions to the knowledge of deep-sea fishes.
Eponymy: Dr Gerhard Krefft (1912–1993) was a German ichthyologist and herpetologist whose great uncle was Johann Ludwig Gerard Krefft (below). [...] Karl Andreas Andersson (1875–1968) was the zoologist of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition led by Otto Nordenskjöld (1902–1903). [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Lönnberg.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range ? - 2700 m (Ref. 58018). Deep-water; 32°S - 78°S
Ranges from the Antarctic Divergence/Weddell-Scotia Confluence to the northern boundary limits (usually considered to coincide with the geographic location of the Subtropical Convergence), and further north in meridional currents: to 32°-33°S in Peruvian Current and to 34°S in Falkland Current.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5182)
Oceanic (Ref. 4066). Found in the upper 50-100 m south of Antarctic Polar Front at night, but deeper (500-600 m) north of Antarctic Polar Front and at depths greater than 1,000 m at Subtropical Convergence. Feeds mainly on copepods, and also on euphausiids and amphipods.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hulley, P.A., 1990. Myctophidae. p. 146-178. In O. Gon and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Fishes of the Southern Ocean. J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Grahamstown, South Africa. (Ref. 5182)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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