| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Myctophidae | Diaphus sp. | Eigenmann and Eigenmann | 1890 | Unspecified Lanternfish |
Unique Characters: Three or more precaudal (1 may be at or above lateral midline at base of caudal peduncle). Dorso-nasal 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. No caudal glands. 1 Pol. More than 1 pair of luminous glands on head (Ant, dorso-nasal, ventro-nasal, or suborbital). Usually a luminous scale at suprapectoral.
Species in the Genus Diaphus:
Diaphus brachycephalus Tåning 1928, Short-headed Lanternfish
Diagnosis: dorsal finrays 13 (rarely 12 or 14); anal finrays 13 (rarely 12 or 14); pectoral finrays 11 (10-12). Gillrakers 6 (5-7) + 1 + 12-13 (11-14), total 19-20 (18-22, rarely 17). AO 5 (rarely 4 or 6) + 4 (rarely 3 or 5), total 9 (rarely 8 or 10). Adult males with anterior region of Vn expanded. Size: to 57 mm, but specimens from western Atlantic, south of 17° S, about 36 mm.
Diaphus dumerilii (Bleeker 1856), (No Common Name) Lanternfish
Diagnosis: equatorial population: dorsal finrays 14 (15); anal finrays 15 (16); pectoral finrays 12 (10-13). Gillrakers 6 (rarely 5 or 7) + 1 + 14 (13-15), total 21 (20-22, rarely 23). AO 7 (6-8) + 5 (4-6), total 12 (11-13). Western South Atlantic population: dorsal finrays 14 (13-15); anal finrays 15 (14-16); pectoral finrays 12 (11-13). Gillrakers 7 (8, rarely 6) + 1 + 17 (I6-18), total 25 (24-27, rarely 23). AO 7 (6-8) + 5 (6), total 12 (11-13). Eastern South Atlantic population (18°-23°S): dorsal finrays 14 (15); anal finrays 14 (15); pectoral finrays 11-12. Gillrakers 8 (7-9) + 1 + 16 (17, rarely 15), total 25-26 (rarely 23 or 27). AO 6 (7) + 5 (4-6), total 11 (12). Dn in adult males larger than in females. Size: central Atlantic to 65 mm; western South Atlantic to 87 mm.
Diaphus garmani Gilbert 1906, Garman’s Lanternfish
Diaphus lucidus Goode and Bean 1896, Spotlight Lanternfish
Diagnosis: dorsal finrays 17 (18, rarely 16), anal finrays 18 (17, rarely 19); pectoral finrays 11 (12). Gillrakers 5 (rarely 6) + 1 + 11 (10-12), total 17 (16-18, rarely 19). AO 7 (8, rarely 6) + 5 (4), total 12 (11, rarely 10 or 13). Size: to 118 mm.
Diaphus minax Nafpaktitis,1968, (No Common Name) Lanternfish
Diaphus mollis Tåning 1928, Soft Lanternfish
Diagnosis: dorsal finrays 13 (rarely 12 or 14); anal finrays 13 (rarely 12 or 14); pectoral finrays 10 (11, rarely 9 or 12). Gillrakers 5 (rarely 4 or 6) + 1 + 11-12 (rarely 10 or 13), total 17-18 (16-19). AO 5 (46, rarely 7) + 4 (3-5), total 9 (8-10). PLO-scale with mottled appearance. Vn larger in adult males than in females. Size: to 66 mm.
Diaphus perspicillatus (Ogilby 1898), Transparent Lanternfish
Diaphus splendidus (Brauer 1904), Horned Lanternfish
Diaphus taaningi Norman 1930, Slopewater Lanternfish
Similar Species: None.
References:
Craddock, J.E. and K.E. Hartel. 2002. Myctophidae. Lanternfishes. Pp 944-951. In The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volume 2: Bony fishes part 1 (Acipenseridae to Grammatidae). K.E. Carpenter (ed.). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes and American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publication No. 5. Rome, Italy. pp. 601-1374.
Marine Species Identification Portal. Accessed at: http://species-identification.org/index.php.
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