| Melanonus zugmayeri | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gadiformes |
| Family: | Melanonidae |
| Genus: | Melanonus |
| Species: | M. zugmayeri |
| Binomial name | |
| Melanonus zugmayeri Norman, 1930 | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Melanonus zugmayeri, the arrowtail, is a species of mesopelagic gadiform belonging to the pelagic cod family Melanonidae. [1]
Melanonus zugmayeri takes its generic name from the Greek roots melan, meaning black, and onos, meaning hake. [2] The specific name is in honour of Austrian ichthyologist Erich Zugmayer. The common name refers to the distinct caudal fin, separated from the dorsal and anal fins.
Melanonus zugmayeri is a relatively large mesopelagic fish, with the largest known specimen reaching a total length of 294mm. [3] It has an elongate body, covered in black cycloid scales, which is compressed laterally, reaching its deepest point at the dorsal fin origin before tapering gradually towards the tail. [4] Its head is more weakly compressed and has a large mouth, with three rows of needle-like teeth in the upper jaw and two in the lower. [2] The teeth in the lower jaw are of uneven size; this trait is used to distinguish the species from its congener M. gracilis , however there is some confusion over whether this distinction is valid. [3] There are also conflicting reports regarding whether the species has two dorsal fins, with separate membranes, or one dorsal fin with an enlarged anterior section. [3] [4] Unlike many members of the gadiformes, M. zugmayeri lacks a chin barbel.
M. zugmayeri possesses a highly developed lateral line system, as is common among deep sea fish. There are wide canals on the head, perforated with large pores that allow the neuromasts within to sense water movement. [5] In addition to these canals there are conspicuous and numerous superficial neuromasts, a trait it shares in common with the melamphaid fish Poromitra capito , consisting of raised papillae in which continuous lines of hair cells are embedded.
The trophic ecology of Melanonus zugmayeri is little known and poorly studied, presumably as this fish is rarely encountered and is of no commercial interest. It is known to predate on crustaceans, with natant decapods reported from stomach contents alongside euphausiid krill and the amphipod Phronima . [3] It has been reported from the stomach contents of the himantolophid anglerfish Himantolophus paucifilosus . [2] It is a host for anisakid nematode parasites. [3]
The pelagic cod is a small deepwater fish found in the Southern Ocean. It is one of only two species currently classified in the family Melanonidae, the other being the arrowtail, Melanonus zugmayeri.
Fangtooths are beryciform fish of the family Anoplogastridae that live in the deep sea. The name is from the Greek anoplo, meaning "unarmed", and γαστήρ, meaning "stomach". With a worldwide distribution in tropical and cold-temperate waters, the family contains only two very similar species in one genus, with no known close relatives.
Lancetfishes are large oceanic predatory ray-finned fishes in the genus Alepisaurus in the monogeneric family Alepisauridae.
Sabertooth or sabretooth fish are small, fierce-looking deep-sea aulopiform fish comprising the family Evermannellidae. The family is small, with just eight species in three genera represented; they are distributed throughout tropical to subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
The black swallower is a species of deep sea fish in the family Chiasmodontidae. It is known for its ability to swallow fish larger than itself.
The hammerjaw, Omosudis lowii, is a small deep-sea aulopiform fish, found worldwide in tropical and temperate waters to 4,000 m (13,000 ft) depth. It is the only representative of its family, Omosudidae.
Sloane's viperfish, Chauliodus sloani, is a predatory mesopelagic dragonfish found in waters across the world. The species was first described by German scientists Marcus Elieser Bloch and Johann Gottlob Schneider in their 1801 book Systema ichthyologiae: iconibus CX illustratum, volume 1. Female C. sloani reach maturity between 133 and 191 mm, while males likely reach maturity at slightly smaller body lengths. It has two rows of photophores along its ventral side. It is believed that C. sloani can adjust the intensity of bioluminescence of the ventral photophores to camouflage itself from predators that might see its shadow from below.
The sea toads and coffinfishes are a family, the Chaunacidae, of deep-sea ray-finned fishes belonging to the monotypic suborder Chaunacoidei within the order Lophiiformes, the anglerfishes. These are bottom-dwelling fishes found on the continental slopes of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, at depths to at least 2,460 m (8,070 ft). There have also been findings of deep-sea anglerfishes off the coasts of Australia and New Caledonia. Other findings suggest some genera of Chaunacidae are found near volcanic slopes encrusted with manganese. Of the two genera in the family, Chaunacops are typically found at deeper depths than Chaunax, but with considerable overlap between the two genera.
This glossary of ichthyology is a list of definitions of terms and concepts used in ichthyology, the study of fishes.
The giant oarfish is a species of oarfish of the family Regalecidae. It is an oceanodromous species with a worldwide distribution, excluding polar regions. Other common names include Pacific oarfish, king of herrings, ribbonfish, and streamer fish.
The crocodile shark is a species of mackerel shark and the only extant member of the family Pseudocarchariidae. A specialized inhabitant of the mesopelagic zone, the crocodile shark can be found worldwide in tropical waters from the surface to a depth of 590 m (1,940 ft). It performs a diel vertical migration, staying below a depth of 200 m (660 ft) during the day and ascending into shallower water at night to feed. Typically measuring only 1 m (3.3 ft) in length, the crocodile shark is the smallest living mackerel shark. It can be distinguished by its elongated cigar-shaped body, extremely large eyes, and relatively small fins.
The bigeye sand tiger is an extremely rare species of mackerel shark in the family Odontaspididae, with a possible worldwide distribution. A large, bulky species reaching at least 3.6 m (12 ft) in length, the bigeye sand tiger has a long bulbous snout, large orange eyes without nictitating membranes, and a capacious mouth with the narrow teeth prominently exposed. It can be distinguished from the similar smalltooth sand tiger by its teeth, which have only one lateral cusplet on each side, and by its uniformly dark brown color.
The smooth butterfly ray is a species of cartilaginous fish in the family Gymnuridae. It is a member of the order Myliobatiformes, which contains 10 total families. Its natural habitats are shallow seas, subtidal aquatic beds, estuarine waters, and coastal saline lagoons. Its common name is derived from its compressed body, pectoral fins that are wider than their length, and overall diamond shape.
Magosternarchus is a genus of weakly electric knifefish in the family Apteronotidae, containing two species. They are endemic to Brazil, occurring in large river channels in the Amazon River basin. Both species are unusual benthic predators that specialize in biting off the tails of other knifefishes, and are characterized by their greatly enlarged jaws and teeth. Recent systematic studies indicate that both species should be included in Sternarchella instead of being placed in their own genus.
Thaumatichthys, the wonderfish or trapjaw anglerfish, is a genus of deep-sea anglerfish in the family Thaumatichthyidae, with three known species. Its scientific name means "wonder-fish" in Greek; oceanographer Anton Bruun described these fishes as "altogether one of the oddest creatures in the teeming variety of the fish world." In contrast to other anglerfishes, the bioluminescent lure of Thaumatichthys is located inside its cavernous mouth. They are worldwide in distribution and are ambush predators living near the ocean floor.
Lasiognathus, the wolftrap anglerfish, is a genus of deep-sea anglerfish in the family Thaumatichthyidae, with six species known from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Sternarchogiton preto is a species of weakly electric knifefish in the family Apteronotidae. It is native to large river channels and major side branches in the Amazon Basin, and is common in the Tefé River and the Rio Solimões to a depth of 14 m (46 ft). It is found in both whitewater and blackwater habitats. The species name preto comes from the Portuguese word for "black", referring to its coloration.
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.
The furry coffinfish, also sometimes referred to the coffinfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Chaunacidae, the sea toads. It is found in salty temperate waters of southwestern Pacific, off east coast of Australia.
Pentherichthys is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Oneirodidae, the dreamers, a family of deep-sea anglerfishes. The only species in the genus is Pentherichthys atratus which is found in the bathypelagic zones of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. The males of this species are dwarfed and are not parasitic on the females.