Dumeril'S Lanternfish

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 14 - 15

High-oceanic and mesopelagic populations are found between 225-750 m during the day (maximum abundance at 450-500 m) and is nyctoepipelagic at surface down to 125 m at night (Ref. 4479). Pseudoceanic and pelagic populations are found in the upper 50 m at night (Ref. 4066). Feeding is acyclic in northwest Africa (Ref. 9198).

High-oceanic and mesopelagic populations are found between 225-750 m during the day (maximum abundance at 450-500 m) and is nyctoepipelagic at surface down to 125 m at night (Ref. 4479). Pseudoceanic and pelagic populations are found in the upper 50 m at night (Ref. 4066). Feeding is acyclic in northwest Africa (Ref. 9198).

Diaphus dumerilii

This tropical species is reported to have two distinct spawning areas, one in the Caribbean Sea and adjacent areas, and the other in the Gulf of Guinea. It probably is the most abundant lanternfish in the Caribbean Sea from which it is believed to be transported in the Gulf Stream system as far as 51°N (Backus et al., 1977). It is a moderately large myctophid, attaining a maximum size of 87 mm (Hulley, 1981) and maturing at 40–42 mm in the Gulf of Guinea and at 52 mm in the Carribbean (Nafpaktitis et al., 1977). Maximum size in the Ocean Acre collections is 53 mm. It is a “rare” myctophid near Bermuda, and is represented by 37 individuals in the Ocean Acre collections.

Juveniles were 17–33 mm, subadults 32–52 mm, and adults (all males) 45–53 mm. None of the females have ova showing any development beyond being recognizable. Males larger than 35 mm have a noticeably larger Dn than females of similar size.

The lack of small juveniles (10 mm) and adult females in the collections implies that the species does not breed in the area. This conclusion is reinforced by the extremely low abundance of D. dumerilii at all times.

Most likely, the individuals found near Bermuda are distributional waifs from the spawning area in the Caribbean Sea.

Little information is available concerning the depth range of this species. In discrete-depth samples, one fish was taken by day at 601–650 m in winter; three were caught at night near 50 m, one in late spring and two in late summer.

Diaphus dumerilii, Dumeril's lanternfish, is a species of lanternfish found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean.

Feeding is acyclic in northwest Africa

tropical areas but with expatriate extensions to 51°N and 45°S in western boundary currents (apparently absent over the minimum region off Brazil)

Occasionally found in Canadian Atlantic waters. Found to depths of 805 m.

nektonic

Known from seamounts and knolls