Stylophthalmus (meaning 'stem-eye') was a name used for what was previously believed to be a genus of fish with eyes perched upon periscopic stalks, known in some cases to be almost one third of the length of the animal's actual body.[1] It is now recognised that all species in this genus are the fish larvae[2][3] of already named, distantly related fish in the orders Stomiiformes and Myctophiformes which may have developed this same trait as a result of convergent evolution. Thus, Stylophthalmus is an invalid name.
- ^ Proujan. C., 1971, Secrets of The Sea, London: Reader's Digest Association Limited, Page 62
- ^ Why are the eyes of larval Black Dragonfish on stalks? - Australian Museum
- ^ WoRMS – World Register of Marine Species – Stylophthalmus