Symbolophorus

Symbolophorus
Temporal range: Miocene to Present
Barnard's Lanternfish (S. barnardi)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Myctophiformes
Family: Myctophidae
Genus: Symbolophorus
Bolin & Wisner, 1959
Species

See text.

Symbolophorus is a genus of lanternfishes. It feeds on various small forms of sea life, in particular fish. Some species in this genus are known to exhibit the Stylophthalmine trait in their larval form. Symbolophorus grows slowly, and shows clear seasonal growth patterns that can be seen in its ear bones which records temperature change in the ocean’s environment.