''Symbolophorus'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
lanternfish
Lanternfish (or myctophids, from the Greek language, Greek μυκτήρ ''myktḗr'', "nose" and ''ophis'', "serpent") are small mesopelagic fish of the large family (biology), family Myctophidae. One of two families in the order Myctophiformes, ...
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 e ...
in their
larval
A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...
form
Species
There are currently eight recognized species in this genus:
* ''
Symbolophorus barnardi''
( Tåning, 1932) (Barnard's lanternfish)
* ''
Symbolophorus boops''
( J. Richardson, 1845) (Bogue lanternfish)
* ''
Symbolophorus californiensis''
( C. H. Eigenmann & R. S. Eigenmann, 1889) (Bigfin lanternfish)
* ''
Symbolophorus evermanni''
( C. H. Gilbert, 1905) (Evermann's lanternfish)
* ''
Symbolophorus kreffti''
Hulley, 1981
* ''
Symbolophorus reversus''
Gago & Ricord, 2005 (Reverse gland lanternfish)
* ''
Symbolophorus rufinus''
( Tåning, 1928)
* ''
Symbolophorus veranyi''
( É. Moreau, 1888) (Large-scale lanternfish)
References
Myctophidae
Extant Miocene first appearances
Taxa named by Rolf Ling Bolin
Marine fish genera
{{Myctophiformes-stub