Benthosema glaciale, or glacier lantern fish, is the most common species of lanternfish and important part of the midwater ecosystem of northern North Atlantic.[1][2]
Benthosema glaciale is a mesopelagic fish that can be found from surface waters down to depth of 1,400m (4,600ft), but it is most common at around 300–400m (980–1,310ft).[4] It undergoes diel vertical migration, moving to shallower water to feed at night.[1][4] However, depth distribution can be bimodal at night, suggesting that not all individuals migrate.[6]
Life history
Benthosema glaciale can grow to 10.3cm (4.1in)SL.[4] They have a maximum lifespan of about eight years,[4] although typical lifespan is shorter.[1] Maturity is reached at age 2–3 years. Spawning takes place mostly in summer.[2] In Norway, oceanic populations grow slower but to a larger size than fjord populations.[7] Mediterranean populations have smaller body size, shorter lifespan, and might spawn throughout the year.[2]
Gallery
Freshly-caught specimen of Benthosema glaciale, representative of the condition this animal usually appears in when landed. The skin and scales have largely been abraded, and the fin rays are damaged, however photophores are still visible either as attachment scars or as reflective patches.
Mesopelagic catch from the North-East Atlantic, predominantly made up of Benthosema glaciale, though many other species of myctophids and other fishes are present in the catch.
↑ Eschmeyer, W. N. (3 February 2015). "Catalog of Fishes". California Academy of Sciences. Archived from the original on 3 May 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
↑ Sutton, T. T.; Letessier, T. B.; Bardarson, B. (2013). "Midwater fishes collected in the vicinity of the Sub-Polar Front, Mid-North Atlantic Ocean, during ECOMAR pelagic sampling". Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. 98: 292–300. Bibcode:2013DSRII..98..292S. doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2013.08.001.
↑ Kristoffersen, J. B.; Salvanes, A. G. V. (2009). "Distribution, growth, and population genetics of the glacier lanternfish (Benthosema glaciale) in Norwegian waters: Contrasting patterns in fjords and the ocean". Marine Biology Research. 5 (6): 596–604. Bibcode:2009MBioR...5..596K. doi:10.1080/17451000903042479. S2CID85048678.
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