Silvery Lightfish

Identification

The silvery lightfish is a very small fish of 4 to 6 cm with an elongated, laterally compressed body. Dark blue to black above, intensely silvery flanks. Rows of bioluminescent photophores along the belly emit a blue-green light.

Ecology

Lives in the mesopelagic zone at 200 to 500 meters by day, migrating to shallower water at night to feed on plankton. Forms enormous schools. Bioluminescence serves as counter-illumination camouflage.

In the Netherlands

Found in deeper parts of the northern North Sea. Ecologically important as a link between plankton and larger fish, seabirds, and whales.