Spothead lantern fish

The spothead lantern fish (Diaphus metopoclampus), also called the bluntnose lanternfish,^[3] is a species of fish in the family Myctophidae (lanternfish).^[4][5]

Spothead lantern fish
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Myctophiformes
Family:	Myctophidae
Genus:	Diaphus
Species:	D. metopoclampus
Binomial name
Diaphus metopoclampus (Cocco, 1829)
Synonyms[2]
Aethoprora metopoclampa Cocco, 1829 Diaphus meteopoclampus Cocco, 1829 Diaphus metopoclampum Cocco, 1829 Myctophum metopoclampum Cocco, 1829 Scopelus metopoclampum Cocco, 1829

Its specific name is from Ancient Greek μέτωπον (metōpon, "forehead") and λαμπάς (lampas, "lantern").^[6]

Description

The spothead lantern fish is black and pink in colour, with a maximum length of 7.5 cm (3.0 in).^[7][8] It has a deep and short head and prominent photophores in its head.^[9]

Habitat

Diaphus metopoclampus is bathypelagic and non-migratory, living at depths of 90–1,085 m (295–3,560 ft) in non-polar seas worldwide, typically on the continental slope.^[10][7]

Behaviour

The spothead lantern fish attains sexual maturity at 4.8 cm (1.9 in) in length; it spawns in the spring and summer.^[11]