lantern fish

lantern fish

      any of the numerous species of small, abundant, deep-sea fish of the family Myctophidae. Some lantern fish live in the depths to 300 metres (about 1,000 feet) by day, but at night they may approach the surface. Others live deeper and do not approach the surface. They are somewhat elongated fish with large mouths and eyes and numerous light organs on the head, underside, and tail base. The arrangement of these lights may aid species or sex recognition. The pattern also provides an important means of identifying the 240 or more species. Fully grown lantern fish range from about 2.5 to 15 cm (1 to 6 inches) long.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • lantern fish — /ˈlæntən fɪʃ/ (say lantuhn fish) noun (plural lantern fish or lantern fishes) any small marine fish of the family Myctophidae, with rows of luminescent spots, living in the open sea and coming to the surface at night. Usage: For variation in the… …  

  • lantern fish — noun 1. : any of numerous small mostly deep sea fishes constituting the family Myctophidae that have a large mouth and large eyes and usually numerous luminous spots or glands upon the body 2. : a fish of the order Iniomi …   Useful english dictionary

  • lantern fish — noun Date: circa 1753 any of a family (Myctophidae) of small deep sea bony fishes that have a large mouth, large eyes, and usually numerous photophores …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Horned lantern fish — Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum …   Wikipedia

  • Warming's lantern fish — Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • lantern — n. 1 a a lamp with a transparent usu. glass case protecting a candle flame etc. b a similar electric etc. lamp. c its case. 2 a a raised structure on a dome, room, etc., glazed to admit light. b a similar structure for ventilation etc. 3 the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • fish — Synonyms and related words: C, C note, Chinook salmon, G, G note, Loch Ness monster, Sunapee trout, aerial torpedo, albacore, alevin, alewife, alligator gar, amber jack, anchovy, angel fish, angle, anguille, archerfish, argusfish, babe, bait the… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • Fish — /fish/, n. Hamilton, 1808 93, U.S. statesman: secretary of state 1869 77. * * * I Any of more than 24,000 species of cold blooded vertebrates found worldwide in fresh and salt water. Living species range from the primitive lampreys and hagfishes… …   Universalium

  • fish — fishless, adj. /fish/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) fish, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) fishes, v. n. 1. any of various cold blooded, aquatic vertebrates, having gills, commonly fins, and typically an elongated body covered with …   Universalium

  • lantern net — a lantern shaped net with a bamboo frame placed over a sighted fish and then released by hand to catch it. The lower opening is the larger and the fish is removed by the smaller upper opening. Similar to a cover pot or plunge basket (q.v.) but… …   Dictionary of ichthyology

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”