Distribution of myctophid fishes in the Eastern Pacific Ocean off northern Chile (18°30´ TO 30°30'S)

Abstract

Thejuvenile and adult myctophid fishes from two cruises off northern Chile (from 18°30' to 30°30’S) captured with a HPN midwater trawl in oblique tows and a Bongo net in double oblique tows, 0 to 200 m and a CalCOFl net in surface tows, were identified and their distributions plotted. Eleven species were caught during the winter cruise and fourteen during the summer cruise. Triphoturus mexicanus was the most numerous and widespread species in both cruises. Diogenichthys atlanticus, D. latematus, Hygophum bruuni and Myctophum nitidulum were alsocommon. Almost ail specimens of all species were caught during night-time sampling, suggesting different day and night vertical distributions. The length-frecuency distribution of most of the species captured is analyzed.The apparent relationship between northward or southward extensions of the seasonal distributions of several speciesand the physical parameters recorded during the cruises is discussed.