lantern fish
noun
: any of a family (Myctophidae) of small deep-sea bony fishes that have a large mouth, large eyes, and usually numerous photophores
Examples of lantern fish in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists speculate that the squid are likely feasting on the many small animals such as krill and lantern fish that are adapted to spend the day there hiding from other predators that are not equipped to spend time in the hypoxic areas.
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Katherine Harmon, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2010
Katherine Harmon, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2010
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lantern fish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1753, in the meaning defined above
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“Lantern fish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lantern%20fish. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
lantern fish
noun
: any of numerous small fishes mostly of deep seas that have a large mouth, large eyes, and spots on the body that give off light
More from Merriam-Webster on lantern fish
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lantern fish
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