Tube-shoulder Fish [Platytroctes apus]
Description
Platytroctes apus, commonly known as the Tube-shoulder Fish, is a species of deep-sea ray-finned fish in the family Platytroctidae. It is the only known member of its genus. They inhabit the mesopelagic to bathypelagic zones in the open ocean, usually being found at depths of between 500 to 3,000 meters. The key distinguishing feature of this species is its light-producing organ located on the shoulder, giving it its common name. It has a long, slender body with a silvery color, a large head, and small eyes. Its diet primarily consists of small crustaceans and other planktonic organisms.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Fish
Actinopterygii
|
| Order |
Scorpionfishes and Flatheads
Scorpaeniformes
|
| Family |
Stargazers
Uranoscopidae
|
| Genus |
Tube-shoulder Fish
Ichthyscopus
|