Scott & Jeanette Johnson, Kwajalein Unterwater
Info
Benthosema fibulatum (Gilbert & Cramer, 1897)
Benthosema is a genus of lanternfishes.
Lanternfish are an important food source for squid, other deep-sea fish, large pelagic fish such as tuna and sharks, seabirds, penguins, whales and dolphins!
All species, with the exception of Taaningichthys paurolychnus, have blue, green or yellow light-emitting luminous organs in rows along the body and on the head. In the genus Diaphus, for example, there are spotlight-like luminous organs near the eyes.
The glow, a bioluminescence, is made possible by bacteria that live as symbionts in the luminous organs and can occur up to 90 times per minute.
By rotating the luminescent organs, Benthosema fibulatum produces flashing patterns with different frequencies.
Luminescent fish can produce flashing signals.
Synonymised names
Benthosema fibulata (Gilbert & Cramer, 1897) · unaccepted (misspelling)
Benthosema pinchoti Fowler, 1932 · unaccepted (synonym)
Myctophum fibulatum Gilbert & Cramer, 1897 · unaccepted
Myctophum hollandi Jordan & Jordan, 1922 · unaccepted
Myctophum renschi Ahl, 1929 · unaccepted
Benthosema is a genus of lanternfishes.
Lanternfish are an important food source for squid, other deep-sea fish, large pelagic fish such as tuna and sharks, seabirds, penguins, whales and dolphins!
All species, with the exception of Taaningichthys paurolychnus, have blue, green or yellow light-emitting luminous organs in rows along the body and on the head. In the genus Diaphus, for example, there are spotlight-like luminous organs near the eyes.
The glow, a bioluminescence, is made possible by bacteria that live as symbionts in the luminous organs and can occur up to 90 times per minute.
By rotating the luminescent organs, Benthosema fibulatum produces flashing patterns with different frequencies.
Luminescent fish can produce flashing signals.
Synonymised names
Benthosema fibulata (Gilbert & Cramer, 1897) · unaccepted (misspelling)
Benthosema pinchoti Fowler, 1932 · unaccepted (synonym)
Myctophum fibulatum Gilbert & Cramer, 1897 · unaccepted
Myctophum hollandi Jordan & Jordan, 1922 · unaccepted
Myctophum renschi Ahl, 1929 · unaccepted
