Photocorynus is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Linophrynidae, the leftvents.

[4] The holotype of P. spiniceps was collected by the Danish research vessel Dana[2] from the Gulf of Panama at 7°15'N, 78°54'W, froma depth of around 1,250 m (4,100 ft).

[6] Photocorynus means "light club", an allusion to the bioluminescent sac at end of the short, club-like illicium.

The specific name, spiniceps, means "spiny head", a reference to the robust spines on the sphenotic bone.

[11] While the female takes care of swimming and eating, the male, with a large proportion of its body consisting of testes, is charged with the task of aiding reproduction.