description Risso's Lanternfish Overview
Risso's lanternfish, Electrona risso, is a small mesopelagic fish in the lanternfish family Myctophidae. It occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea and bears light-producing organs called photophores, a defining feature of lanternfishes. It participates in open-ocean food webs as a consumer of small planktonic animals and as prey for larger fishes, seabirds, and marine mammals.
help Risso's Lanternfish FAQ
What is Risso's lanternfish, and what is its scientific name?
Risso's lanternfish is the small mesopelagic fish Electrona risso in the lanternfish family Myctophidae. It lives in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
Why does Risso's lanternfish glow?
It has light-producing organs called photophores. These organs are a defining feature of lanternfishes and help them produce light in the dark open ocean.
Where can Risso's lanternfish be found?
Electrona risso occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is a mesopelagic fish, meaning it spends much of its life in the ocean's dim middle-water zone.
Is Risso's lanternfish a deep-sea fish?
Yes, it is generally treated as a deep-sea or open-ocean fish because it occupies mesopelagic waters. It is a small member of Myctophidae rather than a fish that lives mainly on the seafloor.
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