| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Myctophidae | Myctophum punctatum | Rafinesque | 1810 | Spotted Lanternfish |
All Myctophum Species: Two Prc photophores. No photophores above lateral line. AO divided into 2 groups, AOa and AOp; Pol present. Mouth terminal, snout not projecting; jaws short, extending less than 1/2 eye diameter behind orbit. PVO1-2 in an inclined line, with PVO2 usually more than 1 photophore diameter above PVO1; all VO level (Fig. 7). One Pol. SAO in an almost straight or slightly angled line with SAO1 well behind VO3 (FAO 2002).
Myctophum punctatum
Unique Characteristics: Three or more AOp photophores above anal-fin base; Pol more than 1 photophore diameter in front of vertical through adipose-fin origin; scales cycloid (FAO 2020).
Similar Species:
Myctophum affine, Metallic Lanternfish
Metallic Lanternfish, Myctophum affine. Two or less AOp photophores above anal-fin base; Pol under adipose-fin base or less than 1 photophore diameter in front of vertical through adipose-fin origin. Posterodorsal margin of opercle evenly rounded, with or without serrations; palatine teeth minute and irregularly scattered (FAO 2020).
Myctophum nitidulum, Pearlyspotted Lanternfish
Pearlyspotted Lanternfish, Myctophum nitidulum. Two or less AOp photophores above anal-fin base; Pol under adipose-fin base or less than 1 photophore diameter in front of vertical through adipose-fin origin. Posterodorsal margin of opercle sharply angulate (juveniles) to pointed (adults) with small area of serrations in best specimens; palatine teeth large and in single row along outer lateral margin. Scales cycloid; pectoral fins pigmented in adult specimens. (FAO 2020).
References:
(FAO 2002). The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volumes 1-3. K.E. Carpenter (ed.). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy. 4099p. (Available at: http://www.fao.org/3/y4160e/y4160e00.htm).
(FAO 2020) Sutton, T.T., P.A. Hulley, R. Wienerroither, D. Zaera-Perez, and J.R. Paxton. 2020. Identification guide to the mesopelagic fishes of the central and south east Atlantic Ocean. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. Rome, FAO. 2020. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb0365en.