Vinciguerria attenuata (Cocco, 1838)
Slender lightfish
Vinciguerria attenuata
photo by Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada

 Family:  Phosichthyidae (Lightfishes)
 Max. size:  4.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  bathypelagic; depth range 100 - 2000 m
 Distribution:  Western Atlantic. Eastern Atlantic: Portugal south to Congo and South Africa, including the Mediterranean. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Indian Ocean: off Inhaca Island, Mozambique (Ref. 3988). Southeast Pacific: Chile (Ref. 9068). South China Sea (Ref.74511)
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 13-16. Dark dorsum, silvery flanks; lower jaw symphysis, premaxilla and fin rays lacking pigment streaks (Ref. 3988).
 Biology:  Mesopelagic species, found at 250-600 m during the day and 100-500 m at night (Ref. 4778, 58302). Both juveniles and adults make short diel vertical migrations (Ref. 4778). Feeds on small crustaceans (Ref. 4778). Adult photophore complement attained at about 20 mm SL (Ref. 4778). Spawns in spring and early summer (Ref. 37473).
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Luna, Susan M. - 25.10.90
 Modified by: Kesner-Reyes, Kathleen - 22.09.08
 Checked by: Garilao, Cristina V. - 03.12.96

Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.


Page created by Jen, 05.08.02, php script by kbanasihan 06/09/2010 ,  last modified by dsantos, 20/08/10