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Fish Identification: Find Species


Family: Myctophidae Lanternfishes



(See list of species below)


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250 species (see list below)
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Scientific Name English Name Distribution Max. Length (cm) Year
Benthosema fibulatum Spinycheek lanternfish Indian Ocean 10 TL 1897
Benthosema glaciale Glacier lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 10.3 SL 1837
Benthosema panamense Panama lanternfish Northeast Pacific 5.5 TL 1932
Benthosema pterotum Skinnycheek lanternfish Indo-West Pacific 7 TL 1890
Benthosema suborbitale Smallfin lanternfish Circumglobal in tropical 3.9 SL 1913
Bolinichthys distofax Eastern Atlantic 9.1 SL 1975
Bolinichthys indicus Lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 4.6 SL 1969
Bolinichthys longipes Popeye lampfish Indian Ocean 5 SL 1906
Bolinichthys nikolayi Nikolay's lanternfish Southwest Pacific. 4.1 SL 1978
Bolinichthys photothorax Spurcheek lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 7.3 SL 1928
Bolinichthys pyrsobolus Fiery lanternfish Indo-Pacific. 9.2 SL 1890
Bolinichthys supralateralis Stubby lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 11.7 SL 1928
Centrobranchus andreae Andre's lanternfish Indo-Pacific. South China 6.5 SL 1892
Centrobranchus brevirostris Northwest Pacific 4 SL 1964
Centrobranchus choerocephalus Pacific Ocean 4 SL 1904
Centrobranchus nigroocellatus Roundnose lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 5 SL 1873
Ceratoscopelus maderensis Madeira lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 8.9 TL 1839
Ceratoscopelus townsendi Dogtooth lampfish Circumglobal. Common sou 18.4 TL 1889
Ceratoscopelus warmingii Warming's lantern fish Atlantic Ocean 10.2 TL 1892
Ctenoscopelus phengodes Bright lanternfish Southeast Atlantic 9.3 SL 1892
Dasyscopelus asper Prickly lanternfish Western Atlantic 8.5 TL 1845
Dasyscopelus obtusirostris Bluntsnout lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 9 TL 1928
Dasyscopelus selenops Wisner's lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 7.5 TL 1928
Dasyscopelus spinosus Spiny lantern fish Atlantic, Indian and Paci 9 SL 1867
Diaphus adenomus Gilbert's large lantern fish Western Pacific 18 SL 1905
Diaphus agassizii Eastern Central Pacific 1908
Diaphus aliciae Indo-Pacific. South China 6 SL 1934
Diaphus anderseni Andersen's lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 3.2 SL 1932
Diaphus antonbruuni Western Indian Ocean 5.5 SL 1978
Diaphus arabicus Western Indian Ocean 1978
Diaphus balanovi Northwest Pacific 9.6 SL 2022
Diaphus basileusi Western Indian Ocean 16.4 SL 1984
Diaphus bertelseni Bertelsen's lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 9.1 SL 1966
Diaphus brachycephalus Short-headed lantern fish Circumglobal 6 SL 1928
Diaphus burtoni Western Central Pacific 1934
Diaphus chrysorhynchus Golden-nosed lantern fish Pacific Ocean. 1.1 SL 1897
Diaphus coeruleus Blue lantern fish Indo-West Pacific 13.7 SL 1871
Diaphus confusus Southeast Pacific 1992
Diaphus dahlgreni Western Pacific 1934
Diaphus danae Dana lanternfish Indo-West Pacific 12.6 SL 1932
Diaphus dehaveni Western Central Pacific 1934
Diaphus diadematus Crown lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 4.2 SL 1932
Diaphus diademophilus Indo-West Pacific 4.9 SL 1978
Diaphus drachmanni Drachmann's lanternfish Eastern Indian Ocean. 1932
Diaphus dumerilii Dumeril's lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 9.5 TL 1856
Diaphus effulgens Headlight fish Eastern Atlantic 15 SL 1896
Diaphus ehrhorni Western Central Pacific 1934
Diaphus faustinoi Western Central Pacific 1934
Diaphus fragilis Fragile lantern fish Tropical areas in all thr 12.3 SL 1928
Diaphus fulgens Indian Ocean 4.5 SL 1904
Diaphus garmani Garman's lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 6 SL 1906
Diaphus gigas North Pacific 8.4 SL 1913
Diaphus handi Western Central Pacific 1934
Diaphus holti Small lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 7 SL 1918
Diaphus hudsoni Hudson's lanternfish Circumglobal between Subt 8.4 SL 1976
Diaphus impostor Imposter lanternfish Western Central Pacific 1995
Diaphus jenseni Jensen's lanternfish Indo-Pacific. Southeast 5 SL 1932
Diaphus kapalae Kapala lanternfish Southwest Pacific 1995
Diaphus knappi Western Indian Ocean 17.3 SL 1978
Diaphus kora Southwest Pacific 1995
Diaphus kuroshio Northwest Pacific 6.3 SL 1978
Diaphus lobatus Western Indian Ocean 1978
Diaphus lucidus Spotlight lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 11.8 SL 1896
Diaphus lucifrons Western Central Pacific 1934
Diaphus luetkeni Luetken's lanternfish Atlantic, Indian and Paci 6 SL 1904
Diaphus malayanus Malayan lanternfish Western Pacific 4.5 SL 1913
Diaphus mascarensis Western Indian Ocean 14.4 SL 1990
Diaphus meadi Mead's lanternfish Circumglobal distribution 5.4 SL 1978
Diaphus megalops Indo-West Pacific. 8.5 SL 1978
Diaphus metopoclampus Spothead lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 9.6 TL 1829
Diaphus minax Western Atlantic 1968
Diaphus mollis Soft lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 6.6 SL 1928
Diaphus nielseni Indo-Pacific 4 SL 1978
Diaphus ostenfeldi Ostenfeld's lanternfish Circumglobal in all three 12 SL 1932
Diaphus pacificus Pacific headlightfish Southwest Pacific 1931
Diaphus pallidus Western Indian Ocean 1989
Diaphus parini Southeast Pacific 1992
Diaphus parri Parr's lanternfish Southeast Atlantic 6.5 SL 1932
Diaphus perspicillatus Transparent lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 10.4 TL 1898
Diaphus phillipsi Bolin's lantern fish Indian Ocean 7.7 SL 1934
Diaphus problematicus Problematic lanternfish Tropical waters of all th 10.5 SL 1928
Diaphus rafinesquii White-spotted lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 9.4 TL 1838
Diaphus regani Regan's lanternfish Indo-West Pacific. South 1.4 SL 1932
Diaphus richardsoni Southeast Atlantic 6 SL 1932
Diaphus rivatoni West Central Pacific 11 TL 1985
Diaphus roei Western Central Atlantic 1974
Diaphus sagamiensis Northwest Pacific 1913
Diaphus schmidti Widespread in the tropica 5.3 SL 1932
Diaphus signatus Indo-Pacific 4 SL 1908
Diaphus similis Eastern Central Pacific. 7.2 SL 1974
Diaphus splendidus Horned lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 9 SL 1904
Diaphus suborbitalis Indo-West Pacific 7.3 SL 1913
Diaphus subtilis Eastern Atlantic 8.5 SL 1968
Diaphus taaningi Slopewater lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 7 SL 1930
Diaphus termophilus Taaning's lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 8 SL 1928
Diaphus theta California headlightfish Eastern Pacific 11.4 TL 1890
Diaphus thiollierei Thiolliere's lanternfish Indo-Pacific 10 SL 1934
Diaphus trachops Eastern Central Pacific 6.4 SL 1974
Diaphus umbroculus Western Central Pacific 1934
Diaphus vanhoeffeni Eastern Atlantic 4.2 SL 1906
Diaphus watasei Watases lanternfish Indo-West Pacific 17 SL 1904
Diaphus whitleyi Western Central Pacific 1934
Diaphus wisneri Western Central Pacific. 1995
Diogenichthys atlanticus Longfin lanternfish Atlantic Ocean 2.9 SL 1928
Diogenichthys laternatus Diogenes lanternfish Pacific 5 TL 1899
Diogenichthys panurgus Indian Ocean 2.3 SL 1946
Electrona antarctica Antarctic lanternfish Circumpolar south of Anta 11.5 SL 1878
Electrona carlsbergi Electron subantarctic Circumglobal between the 11.2 SL 1932
Electrona paucirastra Belted lanternfish Circumglobal in region of 7 SL 1962
Electrona risso Electric lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 8.4 SL 1829
Electrona subaspera Rough lanternfish Circumglobal between the 12.7 SL 1864
Gonichthys barnesi Barne's lanternfish Subtropical convergence s 5 SL 1943
Gonichthys cocco Cocco’s lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 6 SL 1829
Gonichthys tenuiculus Slendertail lanternfish Eastern Pacific 5 TL 1899
Gonichthys venetus Southeast Pacific 1964
Gymnoscopelus bolini Grand lanternfish Generally ranges between 28 SL 1962
Gymnoscopelus braueri Brauer’s lanternfish Generally ranges between 22 SL 1905
Gymnoscopelus fraseri Fraser’s lanternfish Mostly in the region of A 8.8 SL 1931
Gymnoscopelus hintonoides False-midas lanternfish Circumglobal between the 14 SL 1981
Gymnoscopelus microlampas Minispotted lanternfish Circumglobal between Subt 11.7 SL 1981
Gymnoscopelus nicholsi Nichol's lanternfish Generally ranges between 19.1 TL 1911
Gymnoscopelus opisthopterus Circumpolar south of Anta 16.2 SL 1949
Gymnoscopelus piabilis Southern blacktip lanternfish Generally ranges between 14.6 SL 1931
Hintonia candens Generally ranges between 13 SL 1949
Hygophum atratum Thickhead lanternfish Eastern Pacific 6 TL 1899
Hygophum benoiti Benoit's lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 7.8 TL 1838
Hygophum bruuni Southeast Pacific 1971
Hygophum hanseni Hansen's lanternfish Convergence species in al 6.7 SL 1932
Hygophum hygomii Bermuda lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 8.1 TL 1892
Hygophum macrochir Large-finned lanternfish Atlantic Ocean 6 SL 1864
Hygophum proximum Firefly lanternfish Indian and Pacific 5 SL 1965
Hygophum reinhardtii Reinhardt's lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 6 SL 1892
Hygophum taaningi Tåning’s lanternfish Atlantic Ocean 6.6 SL 1965
Idiolychnus urolampus Indo-Pacific 11 SL 1897
Krefftichthys anderssoni Rhombic lanternfish Ranges from the Antarctic 7.1 SL 1905
Lampadena anomala Anomalous lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 18 SL 1928
Lampadena atlantica Eastern Atlantic 20 SL 1969
Lampadena chavesi Chaves' lanternfish Atlantic Ocean 8 SL 1905
Lampadena dea Disjunct circumglobal dis 8.9 SL 1949
Lampadena luminosa Luminous lanternfish Atlantic, Indian and Paci 20 SL 1899
Lampadena notialis Notal lanternfish Convergence species in al 13.9 SL 1968
Lampadena pontifex Eastern Atlantic 11 SL 1970
Lampadena speculigera Mirror lanternfish Atlantic Ocean 15.3 SL 1896
Lampadena urophaos Sunbeam lampfish Western Pacific 20 SL 1963
Lampadena yaquinae North Pacific. 16.9 TL 1972
Lampanyctodes hectoris Hector's lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 7 SL 1876
Lampanyctus acanthurus Spinytail lampfish North Pacific 13 SL 1974
Lampanyctus achirus Lantern fish Circumglobal from the Sub 16.2 SL 1962
Lampanyctus alatus Winged lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 6.1 SL 1896
Lampanyctus ater Dusky lanternfish Most widely distributed s 18.1 SL 1928
Lampanyctus australis Southern lanternfish Circumglobal between 33° 13.1 SL 1932
Lampanyctus bristori Pacific Ocean 14.2 SL 2000
Lampanyctus crocodilus Jewel lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 30 SL 1810
Lampanyctus crypticus Pacific Ocean 9.8 SL 2000
Lampanyctus cuprarius Atlantic Ocean 7.9 SL 1928
Lampanyctus fernae North Pacific 9.1 SL 1971
Lampanyctus festivus Festive lanternfish Atlantic Ocean 13.8 SL 1928
Lampanyctus gibbsi Pacific Ocean 12.2 SL 2000
Lampanyctus hawaiiensis Pacific Ocean 8.1 SL 2000
Lampanyctus hubbsi Pacific Ocean. South Chin 3.0 SL 1963
Lampanyctus idostigma Eastern Central Pacific 9.6 SL 1931
Lampanyctus indicus Indian Ocean 8 SL 2000
Lampanyctus intricarius Diamondcheek lanternfish Northwest Atlantic 20 SL 1928
Lampanyctus isaacsi Eastern Central Atlantic 15.8 SL 1974
Lampanyctus iselinoides Southeast Pacific 1965
Lampanyctus jordani Brokenline lanternfish North Pacific 14 SL 1913
Lampanyctus lepidolychnus Mermaid lanternfish Circumglobal convergence 11.9 SL 1967
Lampanyctus lineatus Tropical and subtropical 23.7 SL 1928
Lampanyctus macdonaldi Rakery beaconlamp North Atlantic 16 SL 1896
Lampanyctus macropterus Western Indian Ocean 6.8 SL 1904
Lampanyctus niger Black lantern fish Pacific Ocean 14.8 TL 1887
Lampanyctus nobilis Noble lampfish Circumglobal. Eastern At 12.4 SL 1928
Lampanyctus omostigma Eastern Central Pacific. 2.6 SL 1908
Lampanyctus parvicauda Slimtail lampfish Eastern Central Pacific 1931
Lampanyctus photonotus Atlantic Ocean 8.5 SL 1928
Lampanyctus phyllisae Southeast Pacific 15.1 SL 2000
Lampanyctus pusillus Pygmy lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 4.3 SL 1890
Lampanyctus regalis Pinpoint lampfish North Pacific 21 TL 1892
Lampanyctus ritteri Broadfin lampfish Northeast Pacific 12 SL 1915
Lampanyctus simulator North Pacific. 9.3 SL 1971
Lampanyctus steinbecki Longfin lampfish Eastern Pacific 3.8 SL 1939
Lampanyctus tenuiformis Slender lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 15.3 SL 1906
Lampanyctus turneri Indo-West Pacific 7 SL 1934
Lampanyctus vadulus Eastern Atlantic 9.9 SL 1981
Lampanyctus wisneri Atlantic, Indian and Paci 8.8 SL 2000
Lampichthys procerus Blackhead lanternfish Circumglobal in the south 10 TL 1904
Lepidophanes gaussi Eastern Atlantic 5 SL 1906
Lepidophanes guentheri Günther’s lanternfish Atlantic Ocean 8 TL 1896
Lobianchia dofleini Dofleini's lantern fish Atlantic Ocean 6 TL 1911
Lobianchia gemellarii Cocco's lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 6 SL 1838
Loweina interrupta Bitemperate in Atlantic a 3.9 SL 1928
Loweina rara Laura's lantern fish Atlantic Ocean 4.5 SL 1892
Loweina terminata Northwest (Ref. 41299) an 3 SL 1964
Metelectrona ahlstromi Southeast Pacific 1963
Metelectrona herwigi Herwig lanternfish Circumglobal convergence 5.5 SL 1981
Metelectrona ventralis Flaccid lanternfish Circumglobal. In the Sou 10.7 SL 1963
Myctophum affine Metallic lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 7.9 SL 1892
Myctophum aurolaternatum Golden lanternfish Western Indian Ocean 11 SL 1899
Myctophum brachygnathum Short-jawed lanternfish Western Central Pacific 1856
Myctophum fissunovi Western Indian Ocean 7 SL 1971
Myctophum indicum Indian Ocean 1877
Myctophum lunatum Indo-West Pacific. 5.7 SL 1978
Myctophum lychnobium Indo-Pacific 3.8 SL 1946
Myctophum nitidulum Pearly lanternfish Circumglobal (Ref. 7300) 8.3 SL 1899
Myctophum orientale Oriental lanternfish Western Pacific. 1913
Myctophum ovcharovi Indian Ocean. Western Ce 7.2 SL 1993
Myctophum punctatum Spotted lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 11 SL 1810
Notolychnus valdiviae Topside lampfish Worldwide distribution in 6.3 TL 1904
Notoscopelus bolini Eastern Atlantic and Medi 10.2 SL 1975
Notoscopelus caudispinosus Lobisomem Eastern Atlantic 14 SL 1863
Notoscopelus elongatus Mediterranean Sea 14.2 SL 1844
Notoscopelus japonicus Japanese lanternfish Northwest Pacific 13.3 SL 1908
Notoscopelus kroyeri Lancet fish Atlantic Ocean 14.3 SL 1861
Notoscopelus resplendens Patchwork lampfish Atlantic Ocean 9.5 SL 1845
Parvilux boschmai Eastern Pacific. 1964
Parvilux ingens Giant lampfish Eastern Pacific 20 TL 1964
Protomyctophum andriashevi Andriashev’s lanternfish Generally circumglobal be 6 SL 1963
Protomyctophum arcticum Arctic telescope Arctic to Atlantic Ocean 6 SL 1892
Protomyctophum beckeri Eastern Central Pacific 3.5 SL 1971
Protomyctophum bolini Bolin’s lanternfish Circumpolar between Antar 6.7 SL 1949
Protomyctophum chilense Southeast Pacific 1971
Protomyctophum choriodon Gaptooth lanternfish Generally, circumglobal b 9.5 SL 1981
Protomyctophum crockeri California flashlightfish Northwest Pacific 3.7 SL 1939
Protomyctophum gemmatum Jewelled lanternfish Probably circumglobal in 8.6 SL 1981
Protomyctophum luciferum Damsel lanternfish Probably circumglobal in 6.1 SL 1981
Protomyctophum mcginnisi Atlantic 2004
Protomyctophum normani Norman's lanterrnfish Circumglobal between 36° 5.6 SL 1932
Protomyctophum parallelum Parallel lanternfish Circumglobal between the 5 SL 1905
Protomyctophum subparallelum Subparallel lanternfish Circumglobal in region of 3.6 SL 1932
Protomyctophum tenisoni Tenison’s lanternfish Circumglobal between the 5.4 SL 1930
Protomyctophum thompsoni Bigeye lanternfish North Pacific 5.2 SL 1944
Scopelopsis multipunctatus Multispotted lanternfish Atlantic, Indian and Paci 9.1 TL 1906
Stenobrachius leucopsarus Northern lampfish North Pacific 13 TL 1890
Stenobrachius nannochir Garnet lanternfish North Pacific 11 SL 1890
Symbolophorus barnardi Barnards lanternfishes Circumglobal in the south 11.6 SL 1932
Symbolophorus boops Bogue lanternfish Eastern Atlantic 16 TL 1845
Symbolophorus californiensis Bigfin lanternfish North Pacific 11 SL 1889
Symbolophorus evermanni Evermann's lantern fish Indo-Pacific 11.7 TL 1905
Symbolophorus kreffti Eastern Atlantic 11.2 SL 1981
Symbolophorus reversus Reverse gland lanternfish Eastern Central Pacific 8.9 SL 2005
Symbolophorus rufinus Western Atlantic 9.4 SL 1928
Symbolophorus veranyi Large-scale lantern fish Eastern Atlantic 12.5 TL 1888
Taaningichthys bathyphilus Deepwater lanternfish Circumglobal between 43° 8 SL 1928
Taaningichthys minimus Waistcoat lanternfish Atlantic Ocean 6.5 SL 1928
Taaningichthys paurolychnus Eastern Atlantic 9.5 SL 1972
Tarletonbeania crenularis Blue lanternfish Eastern Pacific 12.7 TL 1880
Tarletonbeania taylori North Pacific lanternfish North Pacific 7 SL 1953
Triphoturus mexicanus Mexican lampfish Eastern Pacific 7 TL 1890
Triphoturus nigrescens Highseas lampfish Indian and Southeast Atla 8.1 SL 1904
Triphoturus oculeum Eastern Central Pacific 1899



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cfm script by eagbayani, 30.11.04, ,  php script by cmilitante, 05/11/2010 ,  last modified by cmilitante, 14/03/2013