myctophid

English

Etymology

From translingual Myctophidae, from Ancient Greek μυκτήρ (muktḗr, “nose”) + ὄφις (óphis, “serpent”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɪkˈtɒfɪd/

Noun

myctophid (plural myctophids)

1. Any of the small deep-sea fish of the large family Myctophidae, known for their conspicuous use of bioluminescence.
   • 1933, Walter Sydney Berridge, All about Fish and Other Denizens of the Seas & Rivers, page 67:

     The astronesthes, or 'eater of the stars,' so called because it feeds entirely upon other 'star-lit' fish called myctophids, is not only endowed with a number of small, luminous organs upon its body, but its fins, and the greater part of its chin-barbels, also emit a bright light.

   • 2021, Edward Stratemeyer, Don Sturdy on the Ocean Bottom:

     You're a lucky guy to be eating anything right now. Instead you might easily be feeding the tunny fish and tarpon, to say nothing of the astronesthes and myctophids--

Synonyms

• lanternfish

See also

• anglerfish