Sigmops bathyphilus, commonly called the spark anglemouth, deepsea fangjaw or deepsea lightfish,[3] is a species of fish in the family Gonostomatidae (anglemouths).[4]
Sigmops bathyphilus is black in colour, with a maximum length of 20 cm (7.9 in) for the female and 15 cm (5.9 in) for the male. It has 11–15 dorsal soft rays and 22–26 anal soft rays.[5] It has very small photophores.[6] It has a few enlarged teeth on the roof of the mouth.[7]
Sigmops bathyphilus lives in the Atlantic Ocean, southern Indian Ocean, off the south coast of Australia and South Pacific Ocean.[8] It is bathypelagic, living at depths of 700–3,000 m (2,300–9,800 ft), hence its specific name, from Greek words meaning "depth-loving".[5][9]
Sigmops bathyphilus undergoes sex reversal (from male to female) at a length of 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in), with females spawning once they reach 11 cm (4.3 in). Some individuals are "super males", who do not change sex and are the principal spawners.[5][10]
Sigmops bathyphilus, commonly called the spark anglemouth, deepsea fangjaw or deepsea lightfish, is a species of fish in the family Gonostomatidae (anglemouths).
