Bathylychnops exilis

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Javelin spookfish
Bathylychnops exilis.gif
Javelin spookfish
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Argentiniformes
Family:
Opisthoproctidae
Genus:
Bathylychnops
Species:
B. exilis
Binomial name
Bathylychnops exilis [1]
, 1958[2]

Bathylychnops exilis, the Javelin spookfish, is a species of barreleye found in the northern Pacific and in the eastern Atlantic Ocean near the Azores where it is found at depths of around 640 metres (2,100 ft). This species grows to a length of 50 centimetres (20 in) SL.[3]

The species is notable for unusual protuberances that grow from its eyes, which each have "a well developed lens"[4] and a retina, and which have led to the species being called a "four-eyed" fish.[4] It has been suggested that the purpose of these extra eyes is detection of threats from below, since these eyes point downwards.[5] The Javelin spookfish have a distinct and advantageous secondary globe to their eyes. They use mirrors to collect and focus light, instead of a lens to divert the path of light. This feature provides great benefits in their chances for survival.[6][7]

References[]

  1. ^ Integrated Taxonomic Information System: Bathylychnops exilis
  2. ^ Cohen DM (1958). Bathylychnops exilis, a new genus and species of argentinoid fish from the North Pacific. Stanford Ichthyological Bulletin 7, 47-52.
  3. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2012). "Bathylychnops exilis" in FishBase. February 2012 version.
  4. ^ a b Pearcy WG, Meyer SL, Munk O (1965). A 'Four-Eyed' Fish from the Deep-Sea: Bathylychnops exilis Cohen, 1958. Nature 207, 1260-1262.
  5. ^ Dawkins R (2009). The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution. London: Bantam Press.
  6. ^ Pearcy, William G.; Meyer, Samuel L.; Munk, Ole (September 1965). "A 'Four-Eyed' Fish from the Deep-Sea: Bathylychnops exilis Cohen, 1958". Nature. 207 (5003): 1260–1262. doi:10.1038/2071260a0. ISSN 1476-4687.
  7. ^ Stein, D. L.; Bond, C. E. (1985). "Observations on the morphology, ecology, and behaviour of Bathylychnops exilis Cohen". Journal of Fish Biology. 27 (3): 215–228. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1985.tb04022.x. ISSN 1095-8649.


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