Veiled anglemouth

Veiled anglemouth, Cyclothone microdon, is a bristlemouth of the genus Cyclothone, abundant in all the world's ocean at depths between 300 and 2,500 m. Its length is between 10 and 15 cm.

The veiled anglemouth is a small elongate fish, with a large mouth, and large dorsal and anal fins set on the hind half of the body. The small eyes are set well forward on the snout. This species has large thin scales and has the ability to store fat under the skin during periods when food is abundant, changing the body shape markedly.

Veiled anglemouths are dark brown or black with several rows of small luminous photophores along the underside of the body. The pattern of photophores is different in each species of lightfish, and probably aids identification in the absence of natural light.

It is thought that their diet consists of planktonic organisms.

Veiled anglemouths may be the commonest fish in the sea.

References

• Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8