Malthopsis

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Malthopsis
Malthopsis gnoma SI2.jpg
Malthopsis gnoma SI5.jpg
Malthopsis gnoma
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lophiiformes
Family: Ogcocephalidae
Genus: Malthopsis
Alcock, 1891
Type species
Malthopsis luteus
Alcock, 1891

Malthopsis, the gnome batfishes or triangular batfishes, is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. The triangular batfishes are distributed throughout the warmer waters of the world, although they are absent from the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. The genus was originally proposed in 1891 by the British naturalist Alfred W. Alcock.

Contents

Taxonomy

Malthopsis was first proposed as a monospecific genus in 1891 by the British physician, carcinologist and naturalist Alfred William Alcock when he described Malthopsis luteus. [1] Alcock gave the type locality of M. lutea as the Andaman Sea at 11°31'40"N, 92°46'06"E, Investigator station 115 from a depth between 188 and 220 fathoms (1,128 and 1,320 ft; 344 and 402 m). [2] This genus is the most basal genus of 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]

Species

There are currently 22 recognized species in this genus: [5] [6]

Etymology

Malthopsis combines opsis, meaning "resembles", with Malthe, a synonym of Ogcocephalus , although this genus has two gills on either side. [9]

Characteristics

Malthopsis batfishes have a flattened head, although this is higher than the body and they have a long tail. [10] The body disc is very triangular in shape with a widely based rostrum which isclearly pointed and long and which overhangs the mouth. The esca is an oval bulb with 2 small cirri on its upper edge. The scales resemble bucklers or simple spines. The buckler-like scales on the subopercle are typically weel-developed and have some enlarged spines. There are three squarish r obling patchjes of teeth on the vomer and palate and 2 closely set patches of teeth on the tongue. [11] These fishes have small dorsal and anal fin which are located towards the rear of their bodies. The base of the pectoral fins have elbow-like joints and are clearly separated from body, while the pelvic fins are not reduced in size. All of the underside of body is covered in scales while the underside of the tail has a dense covering of small spines, as well as 2 rows of large conical scales. The lateral line is typically complete but when there is an interrupted lateral line the part nearer the tail takes a downward tutn immediately in front of the anus. [10] The colour of the body is plain yellowish-brown to grey or dark brown and there are noramlly markings such as eyespots, plain spots, patches or reticulated lines. [11] These fishes are small, the largest species in the genus is the giant triangular batfish (M. gigas) with a maximum published standard length of 13.6 cm (5.4 in) while the smallest is McCrouther's triangular batfish whit a maximum published standard length of 4.5 cm (1.8 in). [6]

Distribution and habitat

Malthopsis batfishes are found in the Indian, Western Pacific and Western Atlantic Oceans, they are absent from the Eastern Pacific and Eastern Atlantic Oceans. [2] They can be found from coastal regions down to depths of 1,000 m (3,300 ft). [12]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ogcocephalidae</span> Family of fishes (anglerfish)

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.

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

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.

<i>Ogcocephalus parvus</i> Species of fish

Ogcocephalus parvus, the roughback batfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the batifishes. This species has a wide distribution in the Western Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Halieutopsis</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<i>Dibranchus</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<i>Halicmetus</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<i>Halieutaea</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<i>Ogcocephalus</i> Genus of fishes

Ogcocephalus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. The species in this genus are found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Western Atlantic Ocean, with most species in the eastern Atlantic Ocean where they live at shallower depths than the other ogcocephalid genera.

Solocisquama is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. The species in this genus are benthic fishes found in deep waters in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Zalieutes</i> Genus of fishes

Zalieutes is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. The species in this genus are benthic fishes found in deep waters in the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans.

<i>Ogcocephalus corniger</i> Species of fish

Ogcocephalus corniger, the longnose batfish, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. This fish is found at depths between 29 and 230 m in the Atlantic Ocean, ranging from North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas. Like other members of the family Ogcocephalidae, it has a flat triangular body with coloring varying from yellowish to purple with pale, round spots. The lips are orange-red. Projecting from its head is a characteristic structure that is shared by other anglerfish.

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.

<i>Malthopsis gnoma</i> Species of fish

Malthopsis gnoma, the Atlantic triangular batfish, gnome seabat or grotesque seabat, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep-sea batfishes. The grotesque seabat is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean, in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.

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.

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.

<i>Halieutaea indica</i> Species of fish

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.

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

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.

Malthopsis bradburyae, Bradbury's triangular batfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep-sea batfishes. This little known species is found in the western Indian Ocean off Tanzania and is named in honour of the American ichthyologist Margaret G. Bradbury.

<i>Malthopsis lutea</i> Species of fish

Malthopsis lutea, the yellow triangular batfish or longnose seabat, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep-sea batfishes. This species is found in the Indian Ocean. The longnose seabat is the type species of the genus Malthopsis.

References

  1. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Ogcocephalidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  2. 1 2 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Halieutopsis". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  3. ↑ Valerie Derouen; William B. Ludt; Hsuan-Ching Ho; Prosanta Chakrabarty (2015). "Examining evolutionary relationships and shifts in depth preferences in batfishes (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 84: 27–33. Bibcode:2015MolPE..84...27D. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.12.011. PMID   25554525.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Ho, Hsuan-Ching; Last, Peter (2021-01-01). "Review of the batfish genus Malthopsis from Australia (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae), with descriptions of five new species" . Bulletin of Marine Science. 97 (1): 165–218. doi:10.5343/bms.2020.0037. S2CID   226454247.
  6. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Malthopsis". FishBase . February 2024 version.
  7. 1 2 Ho, H.-C.; Roberts, C.D.; Shao, K.-T. (2013). "Revision of batfishes (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae) of New Zealand and adjacent waters, with description of two new species of the genus Malthopsis". Zootaxa. 3626: 188–200. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3626.1.8. PMID   26176132.
  8. 1 2 Ho, H.-C. (2013). "Two new species of the batfish genus Malthopsis (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae) from the Western Indian Ocean". Zootaxa. 3716: 289–300. doi:10.1080/00222939109460385. PMID   26106777.
  9. ↑ Christopher Scharpf (3 June 2024). "Order LOPHIIFORMES (part 1): Families LOPHIIDAE, ANTENNARIIDAE, TETRABRACHIIDAE, LOPHICHTHYIDAE, BRACHIONICHTHYIDAE, CHAUNACIDAE and OGCOCEPHALIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  10. 1 2 "Genus: Malthopsis, Batfishes, Gnome Seabat Batfish, Seabats". Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute . Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  11. 1 2 Theodore W Pietsch (2022). "Order Lophiiformes". In Phillip C Heemstra; Elaine Heemstra; David A Ebert; Wouter Holleman; John E Randall (eds.). Coastal Fishes of the Western Indian Ocean (PDF). Vol. 2. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. pp. 281–307. ISBN   978-1-990951-29-9.
  12. ↑ Daniel Sepúlveda; Eduardo Villalobos; and Héctor Espinosa (2014). "New record of Malthopsis gnoma (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae)in the southern Gulf of Mexico". Marine Biodiversity Records. 7: e19. Bibcode:2014MBdR....7E..19S. doi:10.1017/S1755267214000104 (inactive 1 November 2024).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
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