Echinophryne mitchellii

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Echinophryne mitchellii
Echinophryne mitchellii.jpeg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lophiiformes
Family: Antennariidae
Genus: Echinophryne
Species:
E. mitchellii
Binomial name
Echinophryne mitchellii
(Morton, 1897)
Synonyms
  • Antennarius mitchellii Morton, 1897
  • Echinophryne mitchelli (Morton, 1897)
  • Trichophryne mitchelli (Morton, 1897)

Echinophryne mitchellii, the long-spined frogfish, bristly frogfish, Mitchell's anglerfish, Mitchell's frogfish, prickly angler fish or spinycoat anglerfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Histiophryninae in the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. These fishes are endemic to the temperate waters of southern Australia.

Contents

Taxonomy

Echinophryne mitchellii was first formally described as Antennarius mitchellii in 1897 by the American-born Australian naturalist Alexander Morton with its type locality given as Lisdillon in eastern Tasmania. [1] Although the description was published under Morton's name it is possible it was actually written by James Douglas Ogilby. [2] Some authorities classify Echinophryne in the subfamily Histiophryninae within the family Antennariidae. [3] , while others recognise it as the family Histiophrynidae. [4] However, the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Antennariidae, classifying the family within the suborder Antennarioidei within the order Lophiiformes, the anglerfishes. [5]

Etymology

Echinophryne mitchellii has the genus name Echinophryne which combines echinos, meaning "spiny", a reference to the skin of the type species which was described as “thickly beset with large, upstanding, bifurcate spinules”, with phryne, meaning "toad", a common used suffix for anglerfish genera, it may date as far back as Aristotle and Cicero, who referred to anglerfishes as “fishing-frogs” and “sea-frogs,” respectively, this is assumed to be an allusion to the frog- or toad-like appearance of these fishes. The identity of the person honoured in the specific name is not known but it is possibly the Scottish-born Australian schoolteacher and paleontologist John Mitchell who was an associate of Robert Etheridge, Junior, Ogilby's superior at the Australian Museum. [2]

Description

Echinophryne mitchellii has a short, moderately compressed, deep body with a short caudal peduncle and a large head. The eyes are small and the upturned mouth is large, filled with many small recurved teeth. The small gill opening is to the rear and below the base of the pectoral fin. There are no scales and the body has a dense covering of bifurcate spinules, the length of the spines on each spinule is three to four times distance between the points of the spines. There is a ring around the eye made up of spinules in tight clusters. There are three dorsal spines, the first is the illicium and this is located on the tip of the snout and does not have an obvious lure, or esca, being tipped with a cluster of spinules and sometime cutaneous appendages. The second dorsal spine is almost the same length as the illicium, is positioned above the eye, is not connected to the skin on the head by a membrane and is also tipped with clusters of spinules and cutaneous appendages. The small third spine is connected to the skin on the nape by a membrane. The dorsal fin is supported by 13 or 14 soft rays while the anal fin 8 or 9 soft rays, these fins do not reach the caudal peduncle. The pectoral fins are arm-like and the caudal fin is rounded. The overall colour is beige, light pinkish-brown, yellow to yellowish-brown, the upper part of the head and body is typically slightly darker than the lower head and body. There are irregular, dark-brown to black mottles, particularly on the face and upper surface of the head. The face, the upper surface of thehead, including the dorsal spines and dorsal fin greyish may be greyish. [6] This species has a maximum published standard length of 11.1 cm (4.4 in). [7]

Distribution and habitat

Echinophryne mitchellii is endemicto the temperate waters of southeastern Australia being dound along the south coast of Australia between Wilsons Promontory in Victoria (state) [7] west to Streaky Bay in South Australia. It also occurs around Flinders Island, and the eastern coast of Tasmania as far south as Bruny Island. [6] This is a demersal fish which inhabits inshore reefs [7] at depths between 5 and 70 m (16 and 230 ft). [6]

Related Research Articles

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Frogfishes are any member of the anglerfish family Antennariidae, of the order Lophiiformes. Antennariids are known as anglerfish in Australia, where the term "frogfish" refers to members of the unrelated family Batrachoididae. Frogfishes are found in almost all tropical and subtropical oceans and seas around the world, the primary exception being the Mediterranean Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sargassum fish</span> Species of fish

The sargassum fish, anglerfish, or frog fish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes, the only species in the genus Histrio. It lives among Sargassum seaweed which floats in subtropical oceans. The scientific name comes from the Latin histrio meaning a stage player or actor and refers to the fish's feeding behaviour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocellated frogfish</span> Species of fish

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

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

Glauert's anglerfish is species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Histiophryninae in the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. This species is the only species in the monospecific genus Allenichthys. This species is endemic to southern Australia.

<i>Histiophryne</i> Genus of fishes

Histiophryne is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the subfamily Histiophryninae in the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. These fishes are found in waters ranging from Taiwan to South Australia. There are currently five known species. These fishes are easily distinguished from other anglerfishes as having a reduced luring appendage, a highly evolved form of the first dorsal fin spine.

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

The Butler's frogfish or blackspot anglerfish, Tathicarpus butleri, is a rare species of frogfish in the family Antennariidae. The only member of its genus, this species is the most derived member of its family and represents a separate lineage from all other frogfishes, leading to some consideration of it being placed in its own family. It is found off the southern coast of New Guinea, and along the coasts of Western Australia to 33° S latitude, the Northern Territory, and Queensland to 22° S latitude. A benthic species, it inhabits inshore tropical waters and coral reefs to a maximum depth of 145 m (476 ft), though most are found shallower than 45 m (148 ft). Its specific epithet is after its discoverer Dr. Graham Butler.

<i>Antennarius</i> Genus of fishes

Antennarius is a genus marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. The fishes in this genus are found in warmer parts of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Antennatus</i> Genus of fishes

Antennatus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. The fishes in this genus are found the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Echinophryne</i> Genus of fishes

Echinophryne is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the subfamily Histiophryninae in the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. The fishes in this genus are endemic to the waters off Australia.

<i>Fowlerichthys</i> Genus of fishes

Fowlerichthys is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. The fishes in this genus are found the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Kuiterichthys</i> Genus of fishes

Kuiterichthys is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the subfamily Histiophryninae in the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. These fishes are endemic to Australia.

<i>Nudiantennarius</i> Species of fish

Nudiantennarius is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. The only species in the genus is Nudiantennarius subteres, the deepwater frogfish. This fish is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaggy frogfish</span> Species of fish

The shaggy frogfish, also known as the hispid frogfish, shaggy anglerfish or zebra anglerfish, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. This fish is found in the Indo-Pacific.

Abantennarius bermudensis, the island frogfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. The island frogfish is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.

Antennatus strigatus, the bandtail frogfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frog fishes. This species is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

<i>Antennatus tuberosus</i> Species of fish

Antennatus tuberosus, the tuberculate anglerfish, pygmy angler, pygmy frogfish or tuberculated frogfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. This fish is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Echinophryne crassispina</i> Species of fish

Echinophryne crassispina, the prickly anglerfish, prickly frogfish or thick-spined anglerfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Histiophryninae in the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. These fishes are endemic to the temperate waters of southern Australia.

<i>Abantennarius</i> Genus of fishes

Abantennarius is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. The fishes in the genus are found in the Indian, Pacific and, one species, in the Western Atlantic Oceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Histiophryninae</span> Subfamily of marine ray-finned fishes

Histiophryninae, the star-fingered frogfishes, is a subfamily of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Antennariidae, the frogfishes. The species in this family are found in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.

References

  1. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Echinophryne". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 Christopher Scharpf (14 November 2022). "Order LOPHIIFORMES (part 1): Families LOPHIIDAE, ANTENNARIIDAE, TETRABRACHIIDAE, LOPHICHTHYIDAE, BRACHIONICHTHYIDAE, CHAUNACIDAE and OGCOCEPHALIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  3. ↑ Arnold, R. J.; R. G. Harcourt; and T. W. Pietsch (2014). "A new genus and species of the frogfish family Antennariidae (Teleostei: Lophiiformes: Antennarioidei) from New South Wales, Australia, with a diagnosis and key to the genera of the Histiophryninae". Copeia. 2014 (3): 534–539. doi:10.1643/CI-13-155.
  4. ↑ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2024). "Histiophrynidae" in FishBase . February 2024 version.
  5. ↑ Nelson, J.S.; Grande, T.C.; Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 508–518. doi:10.1002/9781119174844. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6. LCCN   2015037522. OCLC   951899884. OL   25909650M.
  6. 1 2 3 Bray, D.J. (2018). "Echinophryne mitchellii". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2024). "Echinophryne mitchellii" in FishBase . February 2024 version.
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