Observation: On the beach by the cruise ship dock, we found a different kind of fish while I was walking with my daughter on the beach in the evening while the tide was low. I have only seen one of these fish. Not sure what species of fish this is, I was told it’s called some kind of candle fish.
Ocean Integrity Research Consult: Dr.Thomas Okey, Adjunct Professor writes, "Although the fish in this photo appears a little bit like an anchovy, it is really some species of lantern fish (Myctophidae), which are mesopelagic fish, meaning they normally live between 200 and 1000 metres depth.
They migrate vertically on a diel cycle such that every night they swim up to shallow water to feed and every morning they retreat to deeper depths where there are fewer predators. You may notice the light organs on the ventral surface of the fish, which look like shiny little dots. These light organs are for finding friends of the same species and also possibly countershading, or to cancel out the fish’s silhouette and thus hide it from predators that would otherwise see it above them.
Myctophidae is a family, with 246 species in 33 genera. They are found in all the world's oceans. Abookire, Piatt, and Speckman (2002) found a myctophid species, the northern lampfish (Stenobrachius leucopsarus) at 90m depth in Glacier Bay during daytime. Documented in Fisheries Bulletin 100:376–380 (2002).
When observers find a fish like this, I suggest putting it in a zip-lock bag and freezing it, or maybe even fixing it with ethanol. Make a label on which you can add as much information about that specimen as you can, including all circumstances of the collection and your name and contact info. Then a sample is available to send for identification and analysis if needed, and all the information will be attached.” (University of Victoria, School of Environmental Studies)
Auke Bay Laboratories Consult: (2015-02-23) Pete Hagen, Deputy Director, Operations Management (OM) writes, "Two of the experts here at Auke Bay Lab both agree it is likely to be a northern lampfish, based on the appearance and the photophore pattern, though it is hard to be absolutely sure without see the specimen up close. Northern lampfish are very common in Lynn Canal usually residing close to the bottom during the day and seldom look as fresh as that one looked to be when washed up on a beach. Feel free to offer up our Fish ID services anytime."
Note: Doug DeMaster, Science and Research Director for the National Marine Fisheries Service forwarded our post on to Auke Bay Lab. (NOAA)
Observations From Members 