One of two families in the order Myctophiformes, the Myctophidae are represented by 246 species in 33 genera, and are found in oceans worldwide.

One of two families in the order Myctophiformes, the Myctophidae are represented by 246 species in 33 genera, and are found in oceans worldwide.

The Southern Ocean is where myctophidae mostly dominate the mesopelagic fish fauna and, correspondingly, it is home to the greatest predators.

The largely unexploited stocks of oceanic ommastrephids elsewhere in the world's oceans are also known to consume myctophids (Rodhouse and Nigmatullin, 1996).

However, myctophidae play a pivotal role in the pelagic food chain between zooplankton and top predators such as squid, fish, birds and marine mammals.

However, myctophidae play a pivotal role in the pelagic food chain between zooplankton and top predators such as squid, fish, birds and marine mammals.

Large stocks of myctophids are present in some areas, particularly the Indian Ocean (northern Arabian Sea) (Shotton, 1997) and in sub-Antarctic waters of the south Atlantic.