Latin Name: Myctophidae
Geographic Location: Worldwide
Depth: 300-1500 meter
Size: Up to 30 cm

The fish family Myctophidae or ‘Lanternfish’ are the most diverse and widespread family of mid-water fishes accounting for an estimated 65% of all deep sea fish biomass. Myctophids are thus highly important in the deep sea, primarily as prey items for larger predators ranging from other lanternfish to penguins and even whales. They are most abundant near coastlines and continental slopes spend their days between 300 and 1500 m and vertically migrate to between 10 and 100m at night to feed on plankton.

These fish typically have a slender, compressed body covered in small, round silver scales. The shallower species are an iridescent blue-green or silver, whereas the deeper species are much darker.
Lantern Fish have large round lateral eyes and most species have a number of light-producing organs (bioluminescent photophores), which is where lantern fish get their name. These photophores are paired in rows on the underside of the body and head. The photophores emit a weak blue, green, or yellow light, and are known to be arranged in species-specific patterns and in some species, differing between genders. Some also have specialized photophores on the head which can illuminate the area immediately in front of the fish which can light up prey without compromising its own presence.