Firefly lanternfish (Hygophum proximum)

Scientific name: Hygophum proximum Becker, 1965

The Firefly lanternfish (Hygophum proximum) is a marine fish of the family Myctophidae. Native range: Indian and Pacific, widespread in the tropical and subtropical waters. South China Sea.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 17 - 21. Anal organs 12; mature males with large, single, black-edged supracaudal gland, about 3/4 or more of the supracaudal space; mature females with 2 infracaudal glands; has a larger supracaudal gland than any other species of the genus.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Hygophum proximum
Family: Myctophidae (Lanternfishes)
Order: Myctophiformes (Lanternfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 5.0
Depth range: 0–1000 m (0–3281 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 1000 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Indian and Pacific: widespread in the tropical and subtropical waters. South China Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026