Neonesthes capensis

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Neonesthes capensis
Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Stomiiformes Family: Stomiidae Subfamily: Astronesthinae Genus: Neonesthes Species: N. capensis
Binomial name
Neonesthes capensis Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924

Neonesthes capensis is a lightfish of the genus Neonesthes, found in all tropical and subtropical oceans except the north Pacific, at depths of between 70 and 1,500 meters. Its length is between 10 and 17 centimeters.

Neonesthes capensis is an elongated, jet-black fish with a large head and mouth full of teeth. There is a long barbel hanging from the lower jaw with a luminescent lure at the tip. There are also two rows of small photophores along the belly, and a large post-orbital light organ immediately behind each eye that can be covered by a black curtain-like fold. These are probably unfolded to illuminate prey immediately before they are grabbed. The first dorsal fin is high, partly because of the hump on which it is situated, but the second is a tiny adipose fin. The anal fin is narrow but long, reaching almost to the caudal fin.

[edit] References

• Neonesthes capensis (TSN 622368). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 18 April 2006.
• "Neonesthes capensis". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
• Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8