Distribution: circumglobal. Below the adipose fin is a cartilaginous supporting plate. Some genera with small supramaxilla.Subocular shelf present. Analfinorigin below or slightly behinddorsal finbase.Head and body with groups and rows of small photophores; one species without. Scalescycloid; ctenoid in 4 species.Swim bladder usually present. Vertebrae 28-45. Heavily preyed upon by many marinefishes and mammals. Diurnal migration
exhibited by many: most species with peak abundance between 300 and 1200 m by day and between 10 and 100 m at night.
The family Myctophidae belongs to the ClassActinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the OrderMyctophiformes. It contains 32 genera and 235 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine.Members of this family are not used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adultfish in this family is carangiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the Mioceneepoch of the Tertiaryperiod.Etymology
of this family name: Greek, mykter, -eros = nose + Greek, ophis = serpent
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