| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Myctophidae | Diaphus splendidus | (Brauer) | 1904 | Splendid Lanternfish |
All Diaphus Species: Three or more Prc (1 may be at or above lateral midline at base of caudal peduncle). Dn present; either 2 horizontal Pol near lateral line or VO1-3 on a straight ascending line with VO4-5 level. VO1-3 on a straight, inclined, ascending line with VO4-5 level; caudal glands absent; 1 Pol. More than 1 pair of luminous glands on head (Ant, Dn, Vn, or So); usually a luminous scale at PLO (FAO 2002).
Diaphus splendidus
Unique Characteristics: So absent. Dn ranging in size from smaller than body photophore to much larger than nasal rosette, in more-or-less deep recess and directed forward; Vn may be (a) restricted to ventral margin of orbit, (b) restricted to anteroventral margin of orbit, (c) extending dorsally to reach Dn, or (d) spread over most of entire area of snout. Vn extending dorsally between anterior margin of orbit and nasal apparatus, in contact or confluent with Dn. Dn round, smaller than nasal rosette, set in deep, pigment-lined recess above nasal apparatus; anterior end of supraorbital ridge produced into forwardly directed strong spine (often broken) (FAO 2020).
Similar Species:
Diaphus bertelseni – Biglights Lampfish
Diaphus brachycephalus – Shorthead Lanternfish
Diaphus dumerilii – Disjunctlight Lanternfish
Diaphus fragilis – Fragile Headlightfish
Diaphus garmani – Wide Lanternfish
Diaphus lucidus – Spotlight Lanternfish
Diaphus metopoclampus – Bluntnose Lanternfish
Diaphus minax – “Minax” Lanternfish
Diaphus mollis – Soft Lanternfish
Diaphus perspicillatus – Flatface Lanternfish
Diaphus problematicus – Problematic Headlightfish
Diaphus rafinesquii – Lightscale Lampfish
Diaphus subtilis – Flabby Lanternfish
Diaphus taaningi – Slopewater Lanternfish
Diaphus termophilus – Warmwater Headlightfish
References:
Brauer, A. 1904. Die Gattung Myctophum. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 28 (10): 377-404.
(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.
Nafpaktitis, B.G. 1966. Two new fishes of the myctophid genus Diaphus from the Atlantic Ocean. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Volume 133 (No. 9): 401-424.