Author: Norman, 1930
Gonostoma atlanticum Norman, 1930
Status in World Register of Marine Species:
Accepted name: Gonostoma atlanticum Norman, 1930 (updated 2009-06-25)
Diagnosis: body moderately elongate. Pseudobranch present, with 2-3 filaments; gillrakers 4 + 7 + 6-7, total 17-18; branchiostegal rays 14. Dorsal finrays 16-18, behind midpoint of body; pectoral finrays 10-11; pelvic finrays 7 (8); anal finrays 27-31, anal fin origin a little in advance of dorsal fin origin. Swimbladder capacious. Vertebrae 38 (39). Photophores (adult): SO 1, ORB 1, OP 3, BR 9, IV 6 + 10, VAV (4) 5, AC 19 (18-20), OA 13 (14); usually 15 AC over anal fin, 2 between last anal and first procurrent rays; VAV 4 over or posterior to anus; last OA nearer fourth than third VAV; 2 supra-caudal and 1 infra-caudal glands; no glandular masses associated with SO, ORB or OA. Colour: back dark, flanks silver/translucent; no gular pigment patch; finrays unpigmented or so basally. Size: to 66 mm SL.
Habitat: mesopelagic, juveniles and adults at 300-500 m by day, 50-200 m by night; diel vertical migrations. Food: copepods, euphausiids. Reproduction: dioecious; photophores develop in fishes over 12-20 mm SL.
Distribution: circumglobal. Uncommon in Clofnam area; absent in Mediterranean.
Eggs, larvae and young stages. Unknown, see Grey, 1964: 169, fig. 38.
Otoliths (sagitta). Kotthaus, 1967: 18, fig. 23-24.