Brownsnout spookfish

Dolichopteryx longipes

Dolichopteryx longipes is a Tiefseefischart from the family of ghosts fish ( Opisthoproctidae ). He comes possibly circumpolar front between 45 ° and 27 ° north latitude at depths 500-2400 m. Were detected in the fish inter alia California current and the South China Sea.

Features

Dolichopteryx longipes is 18 cm long, has an elongated pike -like, large-headed figure with a dorsal and anal fin, which sit just before the tail fin. Its ventral fins are very long and sit far back. The dorsal fin is supported by ten or eleven, the anal fin of eight to nine fin rays. A line of dark chromatophores extending along the ventral side almost line. Dolichopteryx longipes has 46-47 vertebrae. Light organs missing.

As with some other ghosts fish the eyes of Dolichopteryx longipes are remarkable and show some special adjustments. In addition to tubular eyes which are provided with a lens and directed upwards, the secondary fish eyes that capture light coming from below, reflect on a crystalline mirror layer of guanine and throw on a second retina.

Way of life

Dolichopteryx longipes is a mesopelagic species that lives usually below 450 meters. It feeds on small crustaceans, especially copepods from. Eggs and larvae are planktonic.

Swell

  • Wagner, HJ, Douglas, RH, Frank, TM, Roberts, NW and Partridge, J. C. (Jan. 27, 2009): A Novel Vertebrate Eye Using Both Refractive and Reflective Optics. Current Biology 19 (2): 108-114. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2008.11.061
  • Eschmeyer, Herald, Hamann: Pacific Coast Fishes, Peterson Field Guides, ISBN 0-395-33188-9
Taxonomic rank#All ranks Protacanthopterygii Genus Deep sea fish Photophore Digital Object Identifier FishBase
244140
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