Aracanidae

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Aracanidae
Temporal range: Eocene–Recent
Anoplocapros inermis.jpg
Anoplocapros inermis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Suborder: Ostracioidea
Family: Aracanidae
Hollard, 1860
Genera

see text

Aracanidae, the deep sea boxfishes or temperate boxfishes, are a family of marine ray-finned fishes belonong to the order Tetraodontiformes, which also includes the pufferfishes, triggerfishes and ocean sunfishes. The fishes in this family are found in the Indo-West Pacific region, particularly in the waters around Australia.

Contents

Taxonomy

Aracanidae was first proposed as a family in 1860 by the Swiss-born French biologist Henri Louis Gabriel Marc Hollard. [1] In the past this taxon was regarded as a subfamily of the Ostraciidae. However, recent phylogenetic studies have concluded that the families Aracanidae and Ostraciidae are valid families but that they are part of the same clade, the suborder Ostracioidei. [2] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies this clade as the suborder Ostracioidea within the order Tetraodontiformes. [3]

Genera

Aracanidae contains the following six extant and single extinct genera: [4] [5]

† means extinct.

Etymology

Aracanidae takes its name from its type genus Aracana which was named by the English zoologist John Edward Grey who variously spelt the name Acarana in 1833, Acerana in 1835 and Aracana in 1838. The 1838 name is the one used because it has become the most commonly used name. Grey did not explain the name but in 1835 he referred to boxfishes as "parrotfishes", so the name may refer the aracanga (Macrocercus aracanga), an old name for the scarlet macaw (Ara macao). [6]

Characteristics

Aracanidae boxfishes are oval to round in shape and which is almost completely covered in bony arour created by thickened plate-like scales. These scale are typically hexagonal and are firmly attached to each other, the caudal peduncle is mostly naked but has a few isolated plate-like scales. This armoured carapace has a series of longitudinal ridges, including a ventral ridge, and in some species these have spines on them. They have rather small mouths and often forage for invertebrate by squirting water into the sediment. These fishes do not possess fin spines and pelvic fins, and the dorsal and anal fins have short bases and are set well towards the back of the body. [7] The temperate boxfishes vary in size from a maximum published standard length of 10.4 cm (4.1 in) in the case of Kentrocapros spilonota up to a maximum published total length 37 cm (15 in) in the case of the Eastern smooth boxfish ( Anoplocapros inermis ). [4]

Distribution

Aracanidae boxfishes are found in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans with most species being found around Australia [7] but a few species extend west to eastern Africa [8] and north to Japan. [9]

Fossil record

Aracanidae has a fossil record consisting of a single species, Proaracana dubia , from the Eocene of Monte Bolca in Italy. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tetraodontiformes</span> Order of fishes

Tetraodontiformes, also known as the Plectognathi, is an order of ray-finned fishes which includes the pufferfishes and related taxa. This order has been classified as a suborder of the order Perciformes, although recent studies have found that it, as the Tetraodontoidei, is a sister taxon to the anglerfish order Lophiiformes, called Lophiodei, and have placed both taxa within the Acanthuriformes. The Tetraodontiformes are represented by 10 extant families and at around 430 species overall. The majority of the species within this order are marine but a few may be found in freshwater. They are found throughout the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ostraciidae</span> Family of boxfishes

Ostraciidae or Ostraciontidae is a family of squared, bony fish belonging to the order Tetraodontiformes, closely related to the pufferfishes and filefishes. Fish in the family are known variously as boxfishes, cofferfishes, cowfishes and trunkfishes. It contains about 23 extant species in 6 extant genera.

<i>Anoplocapros</i> Genus of fishes

Anoplocapros is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. These fishes are endemic to the waters around Australia.

<i>Aracana</i> Genus of fishes

Aracana is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. These fishes are endemic to the waters around Australia.

<i>Caprichthys</i> Monospecific genus of fish

Caprichthys is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. The only species in the genus is the rigid boxfish, also known as the black-spotted boxfish or ornate pigmy boxfish which is endemic to southwestern Australia.

<i>Capropygia</i> Monospecific genus of fish

Capropygia is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. The only species in the genus is the black-banded pigmy boxfish, also known as the spiny boxfish which is endemic to southern Australia.

<i>Kentrocapros</i> Genus of fishes

Kentrocapros is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. These fishes are found in the coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Lactophrys</i> Genus of fishes

Lactophrys is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. The boxfishes in this genus are found in the western Atlantic Ocean and are known as trunkfishes.

<i>Lactoria</i> Genus of fishes

Lactoria is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. The fishes in this genus are found in the Indo-Pacific, with one species extending into the southeastern Atlantic.

<i>Aracana ornata</i> Species of fish

Aracana ornata, the ornate cowfish or ornate boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. This species is endemic to the seas off southern Australia.

<i>Aracana aurita</i> Species of fish

Aracana aurita, the Shaw's cowfish, painted boxfish, southern cowfish or striped cowfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. This species is endemic to the seas off southern Australia.

<i>Lactophrys trigonus</i> Species of fish

Lactophrys trigonus, the buffalo trunkfish or trunkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. The buffalo trunkfish is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Anoplocapros lenticularis</i> Species of fish

Anoplocapros lenticularis, the white-barred boxfish, flame boxfish, high-backed boxfish, humpback boxfish, humpty dumpty or smooth boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. This fish is endemic to the seas of southern and western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ostracioidea</span>

Ostracioidea or Ostracioidei, the boxfishes, is a suborder of ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Tetraodontiformes, which also includes the pufferfishes, filefishes and triggerfishes. The fishes in this taxon are found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western smooth boxfish</span> Species of fish

The Western smooth boxfish, also known as the blue boxfish or robust boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deep water boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. This fish is endemic to the seas of southwestern Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern smooth boxfish</span> Species of fish

The Eastern smooth boxfish, also known as the chubby basketfish, freckled boxfish, golden boxfish, polled boxfish, robust boxfish or white-barred boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or tempereate boxfishes. This fish is endemic to the seas of southeastern Australia.

<i>Kentrocapros aculeatus</i> Species of fish

Kentrocapros aculeatus, the Itomaki basketfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish beloning to the family Aracanidae, the temperate boxfishes or deepwater boxfishes. This species is found in the north western and central Pacific Ocean.

Kentrocapros rosapinto, the basketfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the temperate boxfishes or deepwater boxfishes. This fish is found in the Western Indian Ocean and in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean.

Kentrocapros spilonotus, the Hawaiian basketfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the temperate boxfishes or deepwater boxfishes. This species is known from two places in the Hawaiian Islands, one near Laysan and the other is the Penguin Bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitley's boxfish</span> Species of fish

Whitley's boxfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This fish is found in the Eastern Central Pacific Ocean.

References

  1. ↑ Richard van der Laan; William N. Eschmeyer & Ronald Fricke (2014). "Family-group names of recent fishes". Zootaxa. 3882 (2): 1–230. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1 . PMID   25543675.
  2. ↑ Matsuura, K. (2014). "Taxonomy and systematics of tetraodontiform fishes: a review focusing primarily on progress in the period from 1980 to 2014". Ichthyological Research. 62 (1): 72–113. Bibcode:2015IchtR..62...72M. doi: 10.1007/s10228-014-0444-5 .
  3. ↑ Nelson, J.S.; Grande, T.C.; Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 518–526. doi:10.1002/9781119174844. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6. LCCN   2015037522. OCLC   951899884. OL   25909650M.
  4. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Aracanidae". FishBase . June 2024 version.
  5. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Aracanidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  6. ↑ Christopher Scharpf (21 August 2024). "Order TETRAODONTIFORMES: Families MOLIDAE, BALISTIDAE, MONACANTHIDAE, ARACANIDAE and OSTRACIIDAE". Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  7. 1 2 Dianne J. Bray. "Temperate boxfishes, ARACANIDAE". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  8. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Kentrocapros rosapinto". FishBase . June 2024 version.
  9. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Kentrocapros aculeatus". FishBase . June 2024 version.
  10. ↑ Tyler, James & Santini, Francesco (2002). "Review and reconstructions of the tetraodontiform fishes from the Eocene of Monte Bolca, Italy, with comments on related Tertiary taxa". Studi e Ricerche sui Giacimenti Terziari di Bolca. 9: 47–119.
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