550 - 750 m. Atlantic endemic, essentially restricted to eastern tropical Atlantic, ca. 200N to 16°S and to 38°W. Likely
to reach our area.
Genus Photichthys Hutton, 1873
Monotypic.
73.4 Photichthys argenteus
Hutton, 1873
Photichthys argenteus Hutton , 1873: 269 (Cook Strait , New Zealand) ;
Smith, SFSA No. 153*; Grey, 1960: 100; Grindley & Penrith, 1965: 282;
Hulley, 1972: 205; Karrer, 1973: 205.
.
D 12-13; A 23-26; P 9; V 6-7; total GR 15-16; vertebrae ca. 51. Eye
normal. Mouth large. Premaxillary teeth uniserial; vomer, palatines
toothed; pterygoids, tongue with or without minute teeth. Photophores
present on isthmus; ORB 2, OP 3, SO 2, BR 17-18, IV 24-25 , VAV 15-17,
AC 16-18, IC 57-58, OA 33-34; no other luminous tissue on body. AC
level, OA ending over anterior part of A. Dorsal adipose fin above front
part of A; A origin well behind end ofD base. V base slightly in advance of
D origin.
Attains 30 cm. All 3 major oceans; southeast Atlantic,
southeast of Cape Agulhas, and off Natal coast.
73.4 Photiehthys argenteus: 13 em SL (off Cape Point).
Genus Pollichthys Grey, 1959
Monotypic, possibly reaching our area.
73.5 Pollichthys mauli
(Poll,1953)
Yarella mauli Poll, 1953: 59, Fig. 24 (African coast: 5°15'S, 11°29"E).
Pollichthys mauli: Grey, 1959: 169; 1964: 118*; Johnson & Barnett, 1975:
288.
D 10-12; A 22-30; P 8; V 6-7; branchiostegal rays 11-12; total GR 15-19,
none in epi-ceratobranchial articulation; vertebrae ca. 43-44. Eyes
normal. Premaxillary teeth uniserial; vomer, pterygoids with or without
minute teeth; palatine and tongue toothed. Photophores present on
isthmus; ORB 2, OP 3, SO present; BR 8, IV 21-23 (the 8th and/or 9th
73.5 Polliehthys mauli: 6 em holotype (after Poli. 1953).
73: PHOTICHTHYIDAE (LIGHTFISHES)
slightly displaced), VAV 7-9, AC 18-21 , IC 47-50, OA 18-21. OA ending
anterior to A origin; AC level; A base more than twice as long as Dbase;
A origin below or anterior to midpoint of D; V insertion well in advance of
D origin.
Dark dorsum, flanks silver. Attains ca. 6 cm. Adults
mesopelagic, mainly in 300 - 600 m by day, shallower at
night. Tropical waters of all 3 major oceans; known to 9 0 S
off west African coast.
Genus Polymetme McCulloch, 1926
Premaxillary teeth biserial; maxillary teeth uniserial;
vomer, palatines and pterygoids toothed; tongue toothless.
Photophores: ORB 1, BR 9-10, 9th or 10th IV photophore
elevated; 1st 1 or 2 AC elevated; AC ending at A origin; A
base more than twice Dbase; A origin under end of Dbase;
V insertion well in advance of D origin. Dorsal adipose fin
short, over rear half of A. One (possibly 3) species, 1 known
from our area.
73.6 Polymetme corythaeola
(Alcock, 1898)
Diplophos corythaeolum Alcock, 1898: 147 (Andaman Sea). Yarella
africana Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924: 8, PI. 1, Fig. 2 (Natal). Yarella
corythaeola: Smith, SFSA No. 152*. Polymetme corythaeola: Grey, 1960:
95; 1964: 112* .
D 11-14; A 30-34; P 9-11; V 7; branchiostegal rays 12- 13, total GR
16-17; vertebrae 43-45 . Eyes normal. Transparent tissue on belly between
V bases and anus. Photophores conspicuous: ORB 1, OP 3, SO 1, BR
9-10; IV 21 (the 10th elevated), VAV 8, AC 24-25, IC 53-54, OA 17.
Glandular tissue restricted as dorsal crescent on iris.
Dark dorsum, flanks silver; black pigment on outer
C rays. Attains ca. 26 cm. Adults benthopelagic, mainly in
300 - 500 m off continental and island slopes of all 3 major
oceans; off Natal below 300 m.
73.6 Polymetme eorythaeola: 18.5 em SL (after Grey, 1964).
Genus Vinciguerria Jordan & Evermann, 1896
Eyes round or slightly tubular. Premaxillary teeth uniserial; teeth of lower jaw biserial in front; vomer and
palatines toothed; pterygoids and tongue toothless. Photophores conspicuous. Photophores: ORB 2, posterior 1 posteroventral to eye; OP 3; SO present or absent; BR 7-10; IV
and AC series level; last OA ending at about A origin. No
glandular luminous tissue. Dorsal adipose fin short, over
245
to reach our area.
Genus Photichthys Hutton, 1873
Monotypic.
73.4 Photichthys argenteus
Hutton, 1873
Photichthys argenteus Hutton , 1873: 269 (Cook Strait , New Zealand) ;
Smith, SFSA No. 153*; Grey, 1960: 100; Grindley & Penrith, 1965: 282;
Hulley, 1972: 205; Karrer, 1973: 205.
.
D 12-13; A 23-26; P 9; V 6-7; total GR 15-16; vertebrae ca. 51. Eye
normal. Mouth large. Premaxillary teeth uniserial; vomer, palatines
toothed; pterygoids, tongue with or without minute teeth. Photophores
present on isthmus; ORB 2, OP 3, SO 2, BR 17-18, IV 24-25 , VAV 15-17,
AC 16-18, IC 57-58, OA 33-34; no other luminous tissue on body. AC
level, OA ending over anterior part of A. Dorsal adipose fin above front
part of A; A origin well behind end ofD base. V base slightly in advance of
D origin.
Attains 30 cm. All 3 major oceans; southeast Atlantic,
southeast of Cape Agulhas, and off Natal coast.
73.4 Photiehthys argenteus: 13 em SL (off Cape Point).
Genus Pollichthys Grey, 1959
Monotypic, possibly reaching our area.
73.5 Pollichthys mauli
(Poll,1953)
Yarella mauli Poll, 1953: 59, Fig. 24 (African coast: 5°15'S, 11°29"E).
Pollichthys mauli: Grey, 1959: 169; 1964: 118*; Johnson & Barnett, 1975:
288.
D 10-12; A 22-30; P 8; V 6-7; branchiostegal rays 11-12; total GR 15-19,
none in epi-ceratobranchial articulation; vertebrae ca. 43-44. Eyes
normal. Premaxillary teeth uniserial; vomer, pterygoids with or without
minute teeth; palatine and tongue toothed. Photophores present on
isthmus; ORB 2, OP 3, SO present; BR 8, IV 21-23 (the 8th and/or 9th
73.5 Polliehthys mauli: 6 em holotype (after Poli. 1953).
73: PHOTICHTHYIDAE (LIGHTFISHES)
slightly displaced), VAV 7-9, AC 18-21 , IC 47-50, OA 18-21. OA ending
anterior to A origin; AC level; A base more than twice as long as Dbase;
A origin below or anterior to midpoint of D; V insertion well in advance of
D origin.
Dark dorsum, flanks silver. Attains ca. 6 cm. Adults
mesopelagic, mainly in 300 - 600 m by day, shallower at
night. Tropical waters of all 3 major oceans; known to 9 0 S
off west African coast.
Genus Polymetme McCulloch, 1926
Premaxillary teeth biserial; maxillary teeth uniserial;
vomer, palatines and pterygoids toothed; tongue toothless.
Photophores: ORB 1, BR 9-10, 9th or 10th IV photophore
elevated; 1st 1 or 2 AC elevated; AC ending at A origin; A
base more than twice Dbase; A origin under end of Dbase;
V insertion well in advance of D origin. Dorsal adipose fin
short, over rear half of A. One (possibly 3) species, 1 known
from our area.
73.6 Polymetme corythaeola
(Alcock, 1898)
Diplophos corythaeolum Alcock, 1898: 147 (Andaman Sea). Yarella
africana Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924: 8, PI. 1, Fig. 2 (Natal). Yarella
corythaeola: Smith, SFSA No. 152*. Polymetme corythaeola: Grey, 1960:
95; 1964: 112* .
D 11-14; A 30-34; P 9-11; V 7; branchiostegal rays 12- 13, total GR
16-17; vertebrae 43-45 . Eyes normal. Transparent tissue on belly between
V bases and anus. Photophores conspicuous: ORB 1, OP 3, SO 1, BR
9-10; IV 21 (the 10th elevated), VAV 8, AC 24-25, IC 53-54, OA 17.
Glandular tissue restricted as dorsal crescent on iris.
Dark dorsum, flanks silver; black pigment on outer
C rays. Attains ca. 26 cm. Adults benthopelagic, mainly in
300 - 500 m off continental and island slopes of all 3 major
oceans; off Natal below 300 m.
73.6 Polymetme eorythaeola: 18.5 em SL (after Grey, 1964).
Genus Vinciguerria Jordan & Evermann, 1896
Eyes round or slightly tubular. Premaxillary teeth uniserial; teeth of lower jaw biserial in front; vomer and
palatines toothed; pterygoids and tongue toothless. Photophores conspicuous. Photophores: ORB 2, posterior 1 posteroventral to eye; OP 3; SO present or absent; BR 7-10; IV
and AC series level; last OA ending at about A origin. No
glandular luminous tissue. Dorsal adipose fin short, over
245