Splitfin flashlightfish

The splitfin flashlightfish or two-fin flashlightfish (Anomalops katoptron) is a species of beryciform fish in the family Anomalopidae. It is found in warm waters in the central and western Pacific Ocean near shallow reefs 200–400 m (660–1,300 ft) in depth.[1] It can grow to a length of 35 cm (14 in) TL. It is the only known member of its genus.[2]

Splitfin flashlightfish
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Beryciformes
Family:
Anomalopidae
Genus:
Anomalops

Kner, 1868
Species:
A. katoptron
Binomial name
Anomalops katoptron
(Bleeker, 1856)

Description

The splitfin flashlightfish is characterized by two bean shaped torch-like organs under its eyes containing bioluminescent bacteria, which the fish can turn on and off by blinking. The light organs are embedded in suborbital cavities and are connected at the anterior edge via a cartilaginous rod like attachment. The suborbital light organs are densely settled with luminous symbiotic bacteria that grow in tubular structures and produce a constant bluish light.[3] Its body is black with a blue tinge along the dorsal and caudal fins. Adults can reach up to 35 cm (14 in) TL in length.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Splitfin flashlightfish are found in the western and central Pacific Ocean from the Philippines and Indonesia east to the Tuamotus, north to Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef. It is generally found near drop-offs and caves 200–400 m (660–1,310 ft) in depth,[2] but will move into shallower waters during the winter months.[4]

Biology and ecology

A nocturnal species, the splitfin flashlightfish avoids sunlight[4] and seeks prey in dark areas. It feeds primarily on zooplankton.[2] Individuals can be found in large schools during moonless nights in the shallow water of coral reefs and in the open surrounding water.[3] Little is known about the function and purpose of the Morse code-like blinking patterns displayed by the fish, so a research team led by Jens Hellinger from Ruhr-University in Germany sought to investigate how this enigmatic fish uses bioluminescent illumination. They found that during darkness in nighttime, the flashlight fish blinks up to 90 blinks per minute, but when the flashlight fish detects its living planktonic prey, their light organs open for a longer period of time and blink five times less frequently than the absence of plankton.[5] If starved, it slowly loses the ability to emit light.[6]

In the aquarium

This fish can be found in the aquarium trade. It can be kept with other nocturnal fish, including pinecone fish, glasseye squirrelfish, and cardinalfish. This species requires plenty of hiding places and low lighting in the aquarium.[7] Spawning of the related flashlightfish Photoblepharon palpebratum in an aquarium was observed by Meyer-Rochow in 1976.[8]

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References
  1. Bray, Dianne J. (2011). "Twofin Flashlightfish, Anomalops katoptron". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victora. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2017). "Anomalops katoptron" in FishBase. February 2017 version.
  3. Hellinger, Jens, Peter Jägers, Marcel Donner, Franziska Sutt, Melanie D. Mark, Budiono Senen, Ralph Tollrian, and Stefan Herlitze. "The Flashlight Fish Anomalops Katoptron Uses Bioluminescent Light to Detect Prey in the Dark." PLOS ONE. Public Library of Science, n.d. Web. 03 May 2017
  4. Grzimek, Bernhard (2003). Michael Hutchins (ed.). Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, Fishes II. 5 (2 ed.). Farmington Hills: Gale. p. 118. ISBN 978-0787657819.
  5. Gregory, Tessa. "Light It Up: Splitfin Flashlight Fish Use Bioluminescent Light to Detect and Feed on Planktonic Prey." PLOS Research News. N.p., 08 Feb. 2017. Web. 03 May 2017.
  6. Meyer-Rochow, V. B. (1976). "Loss of bioluminescence in Anomalops katoptron due to starvation". Experientia. 32: 1175–1176. doi:10.1007/bf01927610.
  7. Anomalops katoptron. The Fish Index.
  8. Meyer-Rochow, V.B. (1976), "Some observations on spawning and fecundity in the luminescent fish Photoblepharon palpebratus", Marine Biology, 37: 325–328, doi:10.1007/bf00387487
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