Jewel lanternfish (Lampanyctus crocodilus)

Scientific name: Lampanyctus crocodilus Risso, 1810

The Jewel lanternfish (Lampanyctus crocodilus) is a marine fish of the family Myctophidae.

Biology

Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal soft rays: 16 - 18. Distinguished from other species of Lampanyctus by the pattern of its photophores and by its short pectoral fins located just behind gill opening. Photophores along ventral post-anal region (AO): 6 (7) + 8 (7-9) = 14 (13-16).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Lampanyctus crocodilus
Family: Myctophidae (Lanternfishes)
Order: Myctophiformes (Lanternfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 30.0
Depth range: 0–1192 m (0–3911 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 1192 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: strays as far north as Dohrn Bank (off East Greenland) and off northwest Iceland, from British Isles to Mauritanian Upwelling Region including the Mediterranean. Western Atlantic: as shallow as 46 m in Ungava Bay, Canada, in slope water region.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of potential interest
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (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