Splitfin flashlightfish

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Splitfin flashlightfish

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1
)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Trachichthyiformes
Family: Anomalopidae
Genus: Anomalops
Kner, 1868
Species:
A. katoptron
Binomial name
Anomalops katoptron
(Bleeker, 1856)

The splitfin flashlightfish or two-fin flashlightfish (Anomalops katoptron) is a species of fish in the family Anomalopidae. It is found in warm waters in the central and western Pacific Ocean near shallow reefs 200–400 m (660–1,300 ft) in depth.[1] It can grow to a length of 35 cm (14 in) TL. It is the only known member of the genus Anomalops.[2]

Description

The splitfin flashlightfish is characterized by two bean shaped torch-like organs under its eyes containing

caudal fins. Adults can reach up to 35 cm (14 in) TL in length.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Splitfin flashlightfish are found in the western and central Pacific Ocean from the Philippines and Indonesia east to the Tuamotus, north to Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef. It is generally found near drop-offs and caves 200–400 m (660–1,310 ft) in depth,[2] but will move into shallower waters during the winter months.[4]

Biology and ecology

A nocturnal species, the splitfin flashlightfish avoids sunlight[4] and seeks prey in dark areas. It feeds primarily on zooplankton.[2] Individuals can be found in large schools during moonless nights in the shallow water of coral reefs and in the open surrounding water.[3] Little is known about the function and purpose of the Morse code-like blinking patterns displayed by the fish, so a research team led by Jens Hellinger from Ruhr-University in Germany sought to investigate how this enigmatic fish uses bioluminescent illumination. They found that during darkness in nighttime, the flashlight fish blinks up to 90 blinks per minute, but when the flashlight fish detects its living planktonic prey, their light organs open for a longer period of time and blink five times less frequently than the absence of plankton.[5] If starved, it slowly loses the ability to emit light.[6]

In the aquarium

This fish can be found in the

glasseye squirrelfish, and cardinalfish. This species requires plenty of hiding places and low lighting in the aquarium.[7] Spawning of the related flashlightfish Photoblepharon palpebratum in an aquarium was observed by Meyer-Rochow in 1976.[8]

References

  1. ^ Bray, Dianne J. (2011). "Twofin Flashlightfish, Anomalops katoptron". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2017). "Anomalops katoptron" in FishBase. February 2017 version.
  3. ^ a b Hellinger, Jens, Peter Jägers, Marcel Donner, Franziska Sutt, Melanie D. Mark, Budiono Senen, Ralph Tollrian, and Stefan Herlitze. "The Flashlight Fish Anomalops Katoptron Uses Bioluminescent Light to Detect Prey in the Dark." PLOS ONE. Public Library of Science, n.d. Web. 03 May 2017
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0787657819
    .
  5. ^ Gregory, Tessa. "Light It Up: Splitfin Flashlight Fish Use Bioluminescent Light to Detect and Feed on Planktonic Prey." PLOS Research News. N.p., 08 Feb. 2017. Web. 03 May 2017.
  6. S2CID 11826493
    .
  7. ^ Anomalops katoptron. The Fish Index.
  8. S2CID 84779819

External links
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