Cyclothone
Sign in to saveCyclothone is a genus containing 13 extant species of bioluminescent fish, commonly known as 'bristlemouths' or 'bristlefishes' due to their shared characteristic of sharp, bristle-like teeth. These fishes typically grow to around , though some can be larger. These deep-sea fish are most commonly found in the mesopelagic zone of the ocean, mostly at depths of over 300 meters (1,000 feet), and many species have bioluminescence.
Taxonomy · GBIF
GENUS
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- OrderStomiiformes
- FamilyGonostomatidae
via GBIF · CC0
Article
8 sectionsContents
- Distribution and habitat
- Biology
- Species
- Extinct species
- Feeding and diet
- Reproduction
- Conservation status
- References
Cyclothone is a genus containing 13 extant species of bioluminescent fish, commonly known as 'bristlemouths' or 'bristlefishes' due to their shared characteristic of sharp, bristle-like teeth. These fishes typically grow to around , though some can be larger. These deep-sea fish are most commonly found in the mesopelagic zone of the ocean, mostly at depths of over 300 meters (1,000 feet), and many species have bioluminescence.
Cyclothone is believed to be the most abundant fish genus on Earth, with estimates that there are up to a quadrillion individuals (, or one million billion in the short scale) within the current global population. They are so abundant that they are also believed to be the most abundant genus of vertebrate on earth.