Dibranchus | |
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Atlantic batfish, (D. atlanticus) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Lophiiformes |
Family: | Ogcocephalidae |
Genus: | Dibranchus Peters, 1876 |
Type species | |
Dibranchus atlanticus Peters, 1876 | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Dibranchus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. The fishes in this genus are widely distributed in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Dibranchus was first proposed as a monospecific genus in 1902 by the German zoologist Wilhelm Peters when he described Dibranchus atlanticus. [1] The type locality of D. atlanticus was given as near the coast of Western Africa at a depth of 360 fathoms (2,160 ft; 660 m). [2] This genus is classified within the "Indo-Pacific clade" of the family Ogcocephalidae. [3] The family Ogcocephalidae is classified in the monotypic suborder Ogcocephaloidei within the order Lophiiformes, the anglerfishes in the 5th edition of Fishes of the World . [4]
Dibranchus refixes di, meaning "two", on to branchus, meaning "gills", a reference to the only the second and third gill arches having gills, the fourth having no gill filaments. [5]
Dibranchus has the following species classified within it: [6]
Many authorities treat D. nasutus and D. nudiventer as members of the genus Halieutopsis . [7] [8]
Dibranchus batfishes have flattened heads which widen into roughly oval or triangular discs and a long caudal peduncle. The mouth varies in size from relatively small to quite large. The space on the snout for storing the illicium is small and has a bony ridge covered in sharp spines overhanging it. The esca, or lure, consists of a central bulb which has a further pair of bulges at its base, there is no separation between the three components. The eye is not covered inn skin and there is a large preopercular spine\, this has between 4 and 8 spinelets on either side of its tip. The openings to the gills are small and are located to the rear of the upper base of the pectoral fins and the gill rakers are tiny pads of teeth placed on stalks. The dorsal and anal fins are small, positioned to the rear of body. The base of the pectoral fins do not have a membrane connecting them to the body or caudal peduncle. The pelvic fins are not reduced. The lateral line is interrupted, the rear section bends downwards immediately in front of the anus. The scales have bony tubercles with many small spines. The ventral surface of the body is wholly covered in scales. [9] The largest species in this genus is D. tremendus of the central Atlantic which has a maximum published total length of 19.2 cm (7.6 in) , while the smallest is D. sparsus of the eastern central Pacific with a maximum published standard length of 8.4 cm (3.3 in). [6]
Dibranchus batfishes are found in tropical and warm temperate waters with most species being found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, especially the eastern Pacific Ocean. There are two species, D. atlanticus and D. tremendus, occurring in the Atlantic Ocean, these species being found in both the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean. These batfishes are demersal fishes found between 200 m (660 ft) down to depths in excess of 2,300 m (7,500 ft). The species in this genus all seem to have specific depth ranges, for example, the two Atlantic species are separated by depth with D. atlanticus being found above depths of 800 to 1,000 m (2,600 to 3,300 ft) and D tremendus being found deeper than that. [10]
The pancake batfish, Atlantic pancake batfish, Louisiana pancake batfish or spiny batfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes or seabats. This species is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.
Ogcocephalidae is a family of anglerfish specifically adapted for a benthic lifestyle of crawling about on the seafloor. Ogcocephalid anglerfish are sometimes referred to as batfishes, deep-sea batfishes, handfishes, and seabats. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. They are mostly found at depths between 200 and 3,000 m, but have been recorded as deep as 4,000 m (13,000 ft). A few species live in much shallower coastal waters and, exceptionally, may enter river estuaries.
The starry handfish, starry seabat or minipizza batfish, is species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep-sea batfishes or seabats. This fish is found on the continental shelves of the Indo-Pacific oceans at depths of between 50 and 400 m. They are up to 30 cm long.
Halieutichthys is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep-sea batfishes or sea bats. The fishes in this genus are found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Halieutopsis is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes beloning to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. The species in this genus are found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Coelophrys is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep-sea batfishes or sea bats. The fishes in this genus are found in the western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
Halicmetus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. The fishes in this genus are widely distributed in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.
Halieutaea is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. These fishes are found in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.
Halieutichthys bispinosus, the two-spine batfish or spiny batfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes or seabats. This species is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.
Ogcocephalus porrectus, the rosy-lipped batfish, is endemic to Cocos Island off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Though members of Ogcocephalidae occur in tropical, warm waters in both the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific. Rosy-lipped batfish generally reside in shallow to deep water benthic zones with a bathymetric range of 35 – 150 m. The syntypic series was collected at 120 m on a rocky bottom. What makes this fish distinctive are its rosy red lips, specialized pectoral fins used for "walking", and an illicium used for attracting prey.
The Atlantic batfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep-sea batfishes. It is found in deep water in the Atlantic Ocean where it lives on the seabed, feeding on small invertebrates.
Halieutopsis andriashevi, Andriashev's deepsea batfish, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. This fish is found in the western Indian Ocean.
Halieutopsis bathyoreos, broad-snout deepsea batfish, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. This fish is has a widespread distribution in deeper waters in the Indo-West Pacific region as far east as Hawaii.
Halieutopsis ingerorum, Ingers' deepsea batfish, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. This fish is found in the Western Indian Ocean.
Halieutopsis echinoderma, the spiny deepsea batfish, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. This fish is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Halieutopsis margaretae, Margaret's deepsea batfish, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. This fish is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Halieutopsis nasuta, the big-nosed deepsea batfish, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. This fish is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. H. nasuta is classified within the genus Dibranchus by some authorities, but is generally considered to belong in the genus Halieutopsis.
Dibranchus tremendus is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep-sea batfishes. It is found in deep water in the Atlantic Ocean. This species was identified as a different species from Dibranchus atlanticus in 1999. It is the largest species in its genus.
Halieutaea indica, the Indian batfish, Indian handfish or Indian seabat, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. The Indian batfish has a wide Indo-West Pacific distribution.
The Caribbean batfish, also known as the two-spine batfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes or seabats. This species is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.