lanternfish
Bioluminescent ocean fish
Lanternfish are small deep-sea fish named for the light-producing organs (photophores) dotting their bodies.
They live in ocean depths during the day and migrate toward the surface at night to feed, making them one of the most abundant vertebrate groups on Earth.
Their bioluminescence helps with camouflage, communication, and attracting prey in the dark ocean.
Blade-bodied deep-sea fish
- viperfishBioluminescent deep-sea predator
- dragonfishFanged deep-sea fish
- anglerfishBioluminescent deep-sea predator
Mid-depth ocean layer
- twilight zoneUnclear intermediate state
- darknessTotal absence of light
- pressureForce upon contact
- abyssalExtremely deep, unmeasurable
cold · depth · submersible · sonar · midwater · oceanic · pelagic · adaptation
Steady, soft light
- luminescenceHeatless light emission
- light-emittingProducing visible radiation
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
- chemiluminescenceLight from molecular reactions
counterillumination · flash · signal · lure · camouflage · ventral · blue-green · shimmer
Drifting aquatic microorganisms
- copepodMinute planktonic crustacean
- krillSmall marine crustaceans
- preyAnimal being hunted
- predationHunting and consuming prey
food chain · biomass · abundance · schooling · migration · population
Plates or weighing devices
- swim bladderFish buoyancy organ
- large eyesOversized ocular organs
- small sizeCompact physical dimensions
- silveryPale metallic sheen
fins · gills · teleost · vertebrate · otolith · countershading · mouth · teeth
hatchetfish
Blade-bodied deep-sea fish
- viperfishBioluminescent deep-sea predator
- dragonfishFanged deep-sea fish
- anglerfishBioluminescent deep-sea predator
mesopelagic
Mid-depth ocean layer
- twilight zoneUnclear intermediate state
- darknessTotal absence of light
- pressureForce upon contact
abyssal · cold · depth · submersible · sonar · midwater · oceanic · pelagic · adaptation · buoyancy
glow
Steady, soft light
- luminescenceHeatless light emission
- light-emittingProducing visible radiation
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
chemiluminescence · counterillumination · flash · signal · lure · camouflage · ventral · blue-green · shimmer · luminous
zooplankton
Drifting aquatic microorganisms
predation · food chain · biomass · abundance · schooling · migration · population
scales
Plates or weighing devices
- swim bladderFish buoyancy organ
- large eyesOversized ocular organs
- small sizeCompact physical dimensions
silvery · fins · gills · teleost · vertebrate · otolith · countershading · mouth · teeth
ray-finned
Fish with skeletal fin supports
- lanternfishlampfish
- fishcod, salmon, bass, perch, eels
- ocean lifeocean, sea, sea creatures, shark, sea life
- marine ecosystemsphytoplankton, oceans, zooplankton, marine life, krill
- deep seaabyss, seabed, ocean floor, ocean depths, seafloor
- Bioluminescencefirefly, glowworm, glow worm, lightning bug, anglerfish
lanternfishwhale shark
Biggest fish species
great white shark · blue marlin · giant oarfish · manta ray · bluefin tuna