Lovely hatchetfish
Lovely hatchetfish

Lovely hatchetfish

Argyropelecus aculeatus

Uses rows of ventral photophores (light organs) for counter-illumination: matching the faint light from above to eliminate its shadow from predators below.

Depth range
100–2056 m / 328–6745 ft
Conservation status
Least Concern

Open Ocean & Big Fish · Deep Sea Fish

Caribbean Mediterranean & Canary Islands Indian Ocean Indonesia & Philippines Australia South Pacific Hawaii Eastern Pacific

Common hatchetfish Giant hatchetfish