Cryptacanthodes | |
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Giant wrymouth (C. giganteus) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Perciformes |
Suborder: | Zoarcoidei |
Family: | Cryptacanthodidae T. N. Gill, 1861 [1] |
Genus: | Cryptacanthodes D. H. Storer (fr), 1839 |
Type species | |
Cryptacanthodes maculatus D. H. Storer, 1839 | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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Cryptacanthodes is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the monogeneric family Cryptacanthodidae, commonly referred to as wrymouths. Three of the four species are found in the Pacific Ocean with one species native to the western Atlantic Ocean where they are benthic fishes, tunneling through soft substrates. It is currently the only known genus in its family.
Cryptacanthodes was first proposed as a monotypic genus in 1839 by the American physician and naturalist David Humphreys Storer when he described Cryptacanthodes maculatus from Boston Harbor on the Gulf of Maine in Massachusetts. [2] [3] The genus is the only genus in the family Cryptacanthodidae, which was named by Theodore Gill in 1861. [2] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies this family within the suborder Zoarcoidei, within the order Scorpaeniformes. [4] Other authorities classify this family in the infraorder Zoarcales within the suborder Cottoidei of the Perciformes because removing the Scorpaeniformes from the Perciformes renders that taxon non monophyletic. [5]
Cryptacanthodes is a compound of cryptos, meaning "concealed", and acanthodes, which means "spined", a reference to spines of the dorsal fin in the wryfish (C. maculatus) being hidden within a membrane. [6]
The currently recognized species in this genus are: [7]
Cryptacanthodes have an elongate body which is rounded towards the head and compressed towards the tail.. They have a wide, flattened head with highly set eyes. The large mouth has a projecting lower jaw and is highly oblique, nearly vertical in alignment. The dorsal and anal fins are long based, reaching the base of the caudal fin or are joined to the caudal fin. The dorsal fin has 60-80 stiff spines while the anal fin has up to three spines and 43-52 soft rays. The pectoral fins are very small and there are no pelvic fins, although there is a pelvic girdle. They have a single pair of tubular nostrils. In most species there are no scales, although C. giganteus has small ctenoid scales. The mechanosensory canals on the head do not have openings to the outside. The lateral line is made up of widely spaced superficial neuromasts. Vomerine teeth and palatine teeth are present in three species, but are absent in C. aleutensis. The gill membranes have a wide connection to the isthmus and the gill openings do not extend very far forward. There is no swim bladder. They are pale brown on the upper body and cream-colored on the lower body. They may be marked with spots and some specimens may be a uniform pink or red. Wryfish reach maximum total lengths which vary from 31 to 127 cm (12 to 50 in). [7]
Cryptacanthodes Are found in the cold-temperate waters of the North Pacific and western North Atlantic in coastal areas. They excavate the soft substrate to create extensive tunnel systems which have many exits. [8]
Ronquils is a small family marine ray-finned fish, the Bathymasteridae. These fishes are found only in Arctic and North Pacific waters. This family contains just seven species in three genera. The larger species are important to commercial fisheries as food fish. Ronquils are most closely related to the eelpouts and prowfish in the suborder Zoarcoidei of the order Scorpaeniformes.
Anoplopomatidae, the sablefishes, are a small family of ray-finned fishes classified within the order Perciformes. These fishes are found in the North Pacific Ocean.
Hexagrammidae, the greenlings, is a family of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the suborder Cottoidei in the order Perciformes. These fishes are found in the North Pacific Ocean.
Anarhichadidae, the wolffishes, sea wolves or wolf eels, is a family of marine ray finned fishes belonging to the order Perciformes. These are predatory, eel shaped fishes which are native to the cold waters of the Arctic, North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans.
Pholidae is a family of marine ray-finned fishes, known as gunnels, in the scorpaeniform suborder Zoarcoidei. These are fishes of the littoral zone and are mainly found in North Pacific Ocean, with two species found in the North Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean.
Stichaeidae, the pricklebacks or shannies, are a family of marine ray-finned fishes in the suborder Zoarcoidei of the order Scorpaeniformes. Most species are found in the North Pacific Ocean with a few in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The quillfish,, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, it is the only species in the genus Ptilichthys and family Ptilichthyidae. This fish occurs in the northern North Pacific Ocean.
The Australian prowfishes are a small family, the Pataecidae, of ray-finned fishes classified within the order Scorpaeniformes. Australian prowfishes are distinguished by a long dorsal fin that begins far forward on the head, forming a "prow" shape, and extends all the way to the caudal fin. They lack scales and pelvic fins.
Trichodontidae, the sandfishes, is a small family of ray-finned fishes from the order Perciformes. The species in this family are found in the North Pacific Ocean.
Zoarcoidei is a suborder of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Perciformes. The suborder includes the wolffishes, gunnels and eelpouts. The suborder includes about 400 species. These fishes predominantly found in the boreal seas of the northern hemisphere but they have colonised the southern hemisphere.
Aulorhynchidae, the tube-snouts, is a small family of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the suborder Gasterosteoidei in the order Perciformes. These fishes are found in the northern Pacific Ocean.
Pleurogrammus is a genus of ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Hexagrammidae, the greenlings, known as Atka mackerels. These fishes are found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
Stichaeinae is a subfamily of marine ray-finned fishes, classified within the family Stichaeidae, the pricklebacks or shannies. These fishes are found in the North Pacific, Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans.
The crisscross prickleback is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Stichaeidae, the pricklebacks and shannies. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Plagiogrammus. This fish is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean off California.
Stichaeopsis is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Stichaeidae, the pricklebacks or shannies. These fishes are found in the western North Pacific Ocean.
The Arctic shanny is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Stichaeidae, the pricklebacks and shannies. This species occurs in the North Pacific, Arctic and western North Atlantic Oceans.
Opisthocentrinae is a subfamily of marine ray-finned fishes, classified within the family Stichaeidae, the pricklebacks or shannies. These fishes are found in the North Pacific Ocean.
Lumpenopsis is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Stichaeidae, the pricklebacks or shannies. These fishes are found in the North Pacific Ocean.
Lycodinae is a subfamily of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts. These eelpouts are found are in all the world's oceans, with a number of species being found off southern South America.
Jordaniidae is a small family of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Perciformes. These fishes are found in the eastern North Pacific Ocean.