| Cyclothone | |
|---|---|
| |
| Veiled anglemouth (C. microdon) | |
| |
| Tan bristlemouth (C. pallida) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Stomiiformes |
| Family: | Gonostomatidae |
| Genus: | Cyclothone Goode & T. H. Bean, 1883 |
Cyclothone is a genus containing 13 extant species of bioluminescent fish, commonly known as 'bristlemouths' or 'bristlefishes' due to their shared characteristic of sharp, bristle-like teeth. These fishes typically grow to around 1–3 inches, though some can be larger. They are most commonly found in the mesopelagic zone of the ocean, mostly at depths of over 300 meters (1,000 feet), and many species have bioluminescence.[1]
Cyclothone is believed to be the most abundant fish genus on Earth, with estimates that there are up to a quadrillion individuals (1015, or one million billion in the short scale).[2][3] Their abundance is so large that they are also believed to be the most abundant genus of vertebrate on earth.[4]
- ^ Proujan. C., (1979), SECRETS OF THE SEA, 2nd ed., London: Reader's Digest Association Limited pg.60
- ^ Broad, William J. (2015-06-29). "An Ocean Mystery in the Trillions". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
- ^ "Bristlemouth dominance: How do we know? -Ocean Twilight Zone". WHOI- Ocean Twilight Zone. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
- ^ Irigoien, Xabier; Klevjer, T. A.; Røstad, A.; Martinez, U.; Boyra, G.; Acuña, J. L.; Bode, A.; Echevarria, F.; Gonzalez-Gordillo, J. I.; Hernandez-Leon, S.; Agusti, S. (2014-02-07). "Large mesopelagic fishes biomass and trophic efficiency in the open ocean". Nature Communications. 5 (1): 3271. Bibcode:2014NatCo...5.3271I. doi:10.1038/ncomms4271. ISSN 2041-1723. PMC 3926006. PMID 24509953.