''Symbolophorus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

lanternfish Lanternfishes (or myctophids, from the Greek μυκτήρ ''myktḗr'', "nose" and ''ophis'', "serpent") are small mesopelagic fish of the large family Myctophidae. One of two families in the order Myctophiformes, the Myctophidae are represented ...

es. It feeds on various small forms of sea life, in particular fish. Some species in this genus are known to exhibit the

Stylophthalmine trait The Stylophthalmine trait is an adaptation present in the larvae of several different species of actinopterygian fish. It is characterised by the development of elliptically shaped eyes, which are situated at the apex of long periscopic stalks ex ...

in their

larval A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. T ...

form

Species

There are currently eight recognized species in this genus: * ''

Symbolophorus barnardi ''Symbolophorus barnardi'' is a lanternfish in the family Myctophidae, found circumglobally in the southern hemisphere between about 30° S and 11° S at depths of between 100 and 800 m. Its length is about 12 cm. It inhabits the deeper w ...

'' ( Tåning, 1932) (Barnard's lanternfish) * ''

Symbolophorus boops ''Symbolophorus boops'' is a species of fish in the family Myctophidae. References Myctophidae Animals described in 1845 {{Myctophiformes-stub ...

'' ( J. Richardson, 1845) (Bogue lanternfish) * ''

Symbolophorus californiensis ''Symbolophorus californiensis'' is a species of fish in the family Myctophidae. References Myctophidae Animals described in 1889 {{Myctophiformes-stub ...

'' ( C. H. Eigenmann & R. S. Eigenmann, 1889) (Bigfin lanternfish) * '' Symbolophorus evermanni'' ( C. H. Gilbert, 1905) (Evermann's lanternfish) * ''

Symbolophorus kreffti ''Symbolophorus kreffti'' is a species of fish in the family Myctophidae. Etymology The fish is named in honor of Gerhard Krefft (1912-1993) of the Institut für Seefischerei in Hamburg, he being the first to recognize the specimens of ''Symbo ...

'' Hulley, 1981 * ''

Symbolophorus reversus ''Symbolophorus reversus'' is a species of fish in the family Myctophidae. References Myctophidae Animals described in 2005 {{Myctophiformes-stub ...

'' Gago & Ricord, 2005 (Reverse gland lanternfish) * ''

Symbolophorus rufinus ''Symbolophorus rufinus'' is a species of fish in the family Myctophidae. References Myctophidae Animals described in 1928 {{Myctophiformes-stub ...

'' ( Tåning, 1928) * ''

Symbolophorus veranyi ''Symbolophorus veranyi'' is a species of fish in the family Myctophidae. References Myctophidae Fish described in 1888 {{Myctophiformes-stub ...

'' ( É. Moreau, 1888) (Large-scale lanternfish)

References

Myctophidae Extant Miocene first appearances Taxa named by Rolf Ling Bolin Marine fish genera {{Myctophiformes-stub