Teleostei (teleosts) >
Stomiiformes (Lightfishes and dragonfishes) >
Phosichthyidae (Lightfishes)
Etymology: Ichthyococcus: Greek, ichthys = fish + Greek, kokkos = grain, berry (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 0 - 2500 m (Ref. 74511), usually 200 - 500 m (Ref. 3988). Deep-water; 46°N - 20°S, 180°W - 180°E
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).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 126117); max. published weight: 8.40 g (Ref. 126117)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 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).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Badcock, J., 1984. Photichthyidae. p. 318-324. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. volume 1. UNESCO, Paris. (Ref. 4778)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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