CAAB - Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota

CAAB category: 37 - Pisces Fishes
Family: 37 122 Myctophidae (Lanternfishes) - show full list
Standard Name: [a lanternfish]
Organism Type: a lanternfish
Synonyms: Dasyscopelus brachygnathos [in part]
Taxon lists: Current Australian list:
Commercial species list:
Standard Fish Names List:
Habitat: Pelagic, Epipelagic (0-200m, Oceanic)
Pelagic, Mesopelagic (200-1000m, Oceanic)
Parent Codes: 37 122930 Dasyscopelus spp.

Taxon Notes: First recorded from Australia by Paxton et al 2026 from WA. Paxton et al 2026 noted: "AMS specimens totaling 23 (52– 64 mm SL) from two benthic trawls north to northwest of Port Hedland at 300 and 400 m were in breeding condition in April, and were the basis of the previous WA records of D. brachygnathos (Paxton et al., 1989; Hoese et al., 2006) at 18°–19° S. More recent AMS and NMV specimens have increased this range to 17°–21.5°S."

Distribution Map: View detailed map

Modelled distribution shown as blue polygon (source: Australian National Fish Expert Distributions)
Updated on 2026-08-21
Get expert distribution shapefile
Distribution Data: Expected species depth range is from 0 to 400 m.

Record source: Paxton, J.R., Williams, A. & Hulley, P.A., 2026. Illustrated Keys to the Lanternfishes (Myctophidae: Myctophiformes) from Australian Waters, Technical Reports of the Australian Museum, Vol. 45: 1-112. doi:10.3853/j.1835-4211.45.2026.3016

CAAB - Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota - Taxon report