Cyclothone

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.

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). Their abundance is so large that they are also believed to be the most abundant genus of vertebrate on earth.

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