Lanternfish

ocean · bioluminescence · deep-sea

Glowing light organs. Lanternfish have special light-producing organs all over their bodies that make them glow in the darkness of the deep ocean. Scientists think they use these lights to attract food, find mates, and communicate with each other.

Live in the twilight zone. These fish live in the mesopelagic zone, also called the twilight zone, where sunlight barely reaches. During the day they stay deep in the ocean, and at night many swim up toward the surface to hunt for food.

Huge fish family. Lanternfish are super common in the ocean with 246 different species spread across 33 genera. They're found in oceans all around the world, making them some of the most plentiful fish in the deep sea.

Small but mighty. Most lanternfish are quite small, measuring just a few inches long. But despite their tiny size, they're one of the biggest parts of the deep-sea food chain, feeding on tiny plankton and being eaten by larger fish and whales.