Table of Contents
Overview
Comprehensive Description
Biology
Benthopelagic and mesopelagic in slope and near continental and island waters (Ref. 9835, 11230). Found in 130-300 m during the day and in 10-200 m at night (Ref. 4066). Feeds in the evening (Ref. 9191). Feeds on mainly on copepods and various crustacean larvae. Lipid content is 4.6 % in fresh body weight (Ref. 8966).
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Hulley, P.A. 1986 Myctophidae. p. 282-321. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 4066)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=4066&speccode=10238
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Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Sea to about 25°S off Mozambique and to the western Pacific region. Occurrence in the northwest Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans need confirmation (Ref. 9835). Southeast Atlantic: Larvae were present in cruise collections off the eastern coast of South Africa, however, adults have not been reported in this area (Ref. 41388).
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Hulley, P.A. 1986 Myctophidae. p. 282-321. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 4066)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=4066&speccode=10238
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Range Description
The distribution of the Skinnycheek Lanternfish (Benthosema pterotum) extends from Mozambique to the Gulf of Oman, east to the Bay of Bengal, Indonesia and western Australia, and north to Japan (J.R. Paxton pers.comm. 2008).
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Mozambique
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Anon. (1996). FishBase 96 [CD-ROM]. ICLARM: Los Baños, Philippines. 1 cd-rom pp.
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=5909
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Anon. (2000). FishBase 2000 [CD-ROM]. ICLARM: Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. 4 cd-roms pp.
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=6542
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World Register of Marine Species
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Physical Description
Morphology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 17 - 22
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Hulley, P.A. 1986 Myctophidae. p. 282-321. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 4066)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=4066&speccode=10238
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Size
Max. size
7.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 9835))
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Paxton, J.R. and P.A. Hulley 1999 Myctophidae. Lanternfishes. p. 1957-1964. In K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the WCP. Vol. 3. Batoid fishes, chimaeras and bony fishes part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae). FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9835)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9835&speccode=10238
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Diagnostic Description
Description
Inhabits slope and near continental/island waters (Ref. 9835). Feeds in the evening/night (Ref. 9191). Copepods and various crustacean larvae seem to be the dominant food items. Lipid content is 4.6 % in fresh body weight (Ref. 8966).
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Anon. (1996). FishBase 96 [CD-ROM]. ICLARM: Los Baños, Philippines. 1 cd-rom pp.
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=5909
© WoRMS for SMEBD
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World Register of Marine Species
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Type Information
Type for Benthosema pterotum
Catalog Number: USNM 55900
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Preparation: Illustration
Collector(s): C. Pierson
Locality: Bulan, Sorsogon; Luzon, Philippine Islands, Luzon, Philippines, Pacific
Catalog Number: USNM 55900
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Preparation: Illustration
Collector(s): C. Pierson
Locality: Bulan, Sorsogon; Luzon, Philippine Islands, Luzon, Philippines, Pacific
- Type:
© Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
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Cotype for Benthosema pterotum
Catalog Number: USNM 126397
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Collector(s): C. Peirson
Year Collected: 1903
Locality: P.I. Bulan, Philippines, Pacific
Catalog Number: USNM 126397
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Collector(s): C. Peirson
Year Collected: 1903
Locality: P.I. Bulan, Philippines, Pacific
- Cotype:
© Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
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Ecology
Habitat
Environment
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 10 - 300 m (Ref. 4066)
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Hulley, P.A. 1986 Myctophidae. p. 282-321. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 4066)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=4066&speccode=10238
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Habitat and Ecology
Habitat and Ecology
Systems
The Skinnycheek Lanternfish, Benthosema pterotum, is a benthopelagic and mesopelagic species that is typically found on the edge of the continental slope and around islands. This species has a depth range of 10-300 m. During the day it is found at a depth of 130-300 m and at night it migrates up to a depth range of 10-200 m. It feeds mainly on copepods and various crustacean larvae.
Systems
- Marine
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Depth range based on 16 specimens in 1 taxon.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 33 - 1450
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 33 - 1450
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 33 - 1450
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 33 - 1450
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Depth: 10 - 300m.
From 10 to 300 meters.
Habitat: bathypelagic.
From 10 to 300 meters.
Habitat: bathypelagic.
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Trophic Strategy
Benthopelagic and mesopelagic in slope and near continental and island waters. Found in 130-300 m during the day and in 10-200 m at night (Ref. 4066). Feeds in the evening (Ref. 9191). Feeds on mainly on copepods and various crustacean larvae.
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Hulley, P.A. 1986 Myctophidae. p. 282-321. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 4066)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=4066&speccode=10238
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Statistics of barcoding coverage: Benthosema pterotum
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 5
Species With Barcodes: 1
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 5
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
LC
Least Concern
Red List Criteria
Version
3.1
Year Assessed
2010
Assessor/s
Paxton, J.R.
Reviewer/s
Collen, B., Richman, N., Beresford, A., Chenery, A. & Ram, M.
Contributor/s
De Silva, R., Milligan, H., Lutz, M., Batchelor, A., Jopling, B., Kemp, K., Lewis, S., Lintott, P., Sears, J., Wilson, P., Smith, J. and Livingston, F.
Justification
Benthosema pterotum has been assessed as Least Concern. Although this species is harvested as a food source, at present it is only of minor commercial importance to fisheries and the harvesting of this species is not likely to occur throughout its broad distribution. This species is reported to be the most dominat fish species in areas of its range and at present there is no reports of this species suffering any significant population declines. Due to the potential for increased exploitation of Benthosema pterotum, monitoring of the harvest levels and extent of harvest of this species is needed to determine if this threat is likely to become more widespread tin the future.
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Trends
Population
Population
Population Trend
The mesopelagic fish community in the Gulf of Oman is reported to be dominated by Skinnycheek Lanternfish (Dalpadado and Gjøsæter 1988). An estimate of the biomass in the Gulf of Oman ranges from 1- 4 million tonnes (Valinassab, Pierce and Johannesson 2007).
Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats
Least Concern (LC)
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IUCN 2006 2006 IUCN red list of threatened species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded July 2006.
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=57073
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Major Threats
There is large potential for future commercial exploitation of this species for use as fish meal (Dalpadado 1988), however at present the trawling of this species is not economically viable (Valinassab, Pierce and Johannesson 2007).
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Management
Conservation Actions
Conservation Actions
There are no known species-specific conservation measures in place, or needed, for Benthosema pterotum.
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Importance
fisheries: minor commercial; price category: high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family
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