# Lanternfish (*Myctophum punctatum*)

> The spotted lanternfish (Myctophum punctatum) is a keystone mesopelagic fish whose daily vertical migration moves carbon through ocean food webs. Adults reach 8 cm and are Least Concern.

- **Category:** Fish
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Temperate and subtropical Atlantic mesopelagic zone.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/lanternfish/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Actinopterygii
- **Order:** Myctophiformes
- **Family:** Myctophidae
- **Genus:** Myctophum

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Myctophum punctatum |
| Diet | Carnivore (zooplankton) |
| Habitat | Open ocean midwaters |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Weight | 0.005–0.01 kg |
| Top speed | up to 5 km/h |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Lights of the twilight zone

Photophores along the flank produce species-specific glow patterns for schooling and camouflage. Huge eyes and silver sides suit life 200–1000 m deep.

## Zooplankton commuter

Nightly ascents to surface waters harvest copepods and krill; daytime descent hides from predators. Billions of individuals make this the world's most abundant vertebrate migration.

## Temperate Atlantic midwaters

Myctophum punctatum ranges the temperate and subtropical North Atlantic mesopelagic zone. The wider lanternfish family dominates deep oceans globally.

## Invisible backbone of fisheries

Least Concern with astronomical numbers. They transfer surface production to tuna, squid, and deep-diving whales — supporting commercial fisheries indirectly.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why are they called lanternfish?

Bioluminescent photophores dotted along the body resemble tiny lanterns in the deep sea.

### Do lanternfish migrate daily?

Yes — they rise toward the surface at night and sink hundreds of metres by day.

### How important are lanternfish to oceans?

They are among the most abundant vertebrates and channel plankton energy to larger predators.

### How big is a spotted lanternfish?

About 6–8 cm — small but extraordinarily numerous.

### What eats lanternfish?

Tuna, squid, dolphins, and deep-diving seabirds depend on lanternfish migrations.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/lanternfish/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.