Transparent lantern fish (Diaphus perspicillatus)

Scientific name: Diaphus perspicillatus Ogilby, 1898

The Transparent lantern fish (Diaphus perspicillatus) is a marine fish of the family Myctophidae.

Biology

Oceanic, found between 375-750 m during the day and nyctoepipelagic at surface down to 125 m. Mesopelagic at 0-240 m at night, 315-1500 m during day. Seem to reach sexual maturity at a length between 5 and 5.5 cm.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Diaphus perspicillatus
Family: Myctophidae (Lanternfishes)
Order: Myctophiformes (Lanternfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 7.1
Depth range: 0–1500 m (0–4921 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathypelagic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 1500 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: Western Sahara to Cape of Good Hope, South Africa (Agulhas Water pockets). Western Atlantic: USA to Argentina; between 27?30'N and 35?56'S. Northwest Atlantic: Canada. Eastern Pacific: Near Hawaii. Western Pacific: 36?N and 1?S southwards to East Australian Current. Western Indian Ocean: west of 70?E between 7?N-25?S, and in Agulhas Current to 37?S. South China Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
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