''Dasyscopelus asper'', previously ''Myctophum asperum'', common name the prickly lanternfish,
Myctophum asperum Richardson, 1845 - Encyclopedia of Life
/ref> is a species of deep sea fish in the family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Myctophidae, the "lanternfish".
Description
This species has large eyes, and grows to a maximum length of approximately .[Myctophum asperum, Prickly lanternfish]
/ref>
Distribution
''Dasyscopelus asper'' is found in the following regions:Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
from 20° north to Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
, and also occurs in the Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United ...
.
*Eastern Atlantic Ocean, occurring from Mauritania to South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
in the Agulhas Agulhas (''needles'' in the Portuguese language — or ) may refer to:
* Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa
* L'Agulhas, a town near the Cape
* Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, located at the Cape
* Cape Agulhas Local Municipality, the municip ...
water pockets.
*Northwest Atlantic near Canada.
*Indo-Pacific in both the following currents:
:*North and south equatorial currents
:*Equatorial countercurrents
:*East Australian and Agulhas currents
*Eastern Central Pacific.
*South China Sea and East China Sea
Larvae have also been found in the Taiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait is a -wide strait separating the island of Taiwan and continental Asia. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to the East China Sea to the north. The narrowest part is wide.
The Taiwan Strait is itself a ...
.
Habitat
This species is found at depths of between 425 and 750 metres during the day.
Synonyms
*''Myctophum asperum'' (Richardson, 1845)
*''Dasyscopelus naufragus'' Waite, 1904
*''Scopelus asper'' (Richardson, 1845)
References
External links
Photo of specimen
Myctophidae
Taxa named by John Richardson (naturalist)
Fish described in 1845
{{Myctophiformes-stub