Ogcocephalidae

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Ogcocephalidae
Halieutaea stellata by DaijuAzuma.jpg
Halieutaea stellata in Takeshima Aquarium, Japan
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lophiiformes
Suborder: Ogcocephaloidei
Pietsch, 1984
Family: Ogcocephalidae
D. S. Jordan, 1895
Genera

see text

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, [1] [2] deep-sea batfishes, [3] handfishes, and seabats. [4] They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. [2] They are mostly found at depths between 200 and 3,000 m (660 and 9,840 ft), but have been recorded as deep as 4,000 m (13,000 ft). [2] [5] A few species live in much shallower coastal waters and, exceptionally, may enter river estuaries. [2]

Contents

Taxonomy

Ogcocephalidae was first proposed as a separate family, the Chaunacidae, by the American biologist David Starr Jordan in 1895. [6] Charles Tate Regan placed this family within the division Antennariformes within his suborder Lophiodea when he classified the order Pediculati, his grouping of the toadfishes and anglerfishes. [7] In 1981 Theodore Wells Pietsch III realised that the monophyly of Regan's 1912 groupings within his Lophoidea had not been confirmed. Pietsch proposed a sister relationship between the sea toads and the Ogcocephalidae, however, was unable to identify any grouping that was a sister group to both the Chaunacidae and Ogcocephalidae nor did he find any osteological characters to support or otherwise their classification within the Antennariiformes. He, tenatively, retained both groups within the Antennarioidei even although he was unable to establish the monophyly of the four families Regan classified in the Antennariiformes in 1912. In 1984 Pietsch classified the Ogcocephalidae in the monotypic suborder Ogcocephaloidei within the Lophiiformes. [8] This is the classification followed by the 5th edition of Fishes of the World . [9]

The most basal genus in the Ogcocephalidae is Halieutaea and this is the sister group to the rest of the family. The remaining genera divide into two clades, an eastern Pacific/western Atlantic clade; including Ogccephalus, Zalieutes and Halieutichthys and a Indo-Pacific clade, containing the remaining genera. [1]

Genera

Ogcocephalidae contains the following genera: [10]

Characteristics

Ogcocephaloidei batfishes are dorsoventrally compressed fishes similar in appearance to rays, with a large circular or triangular head (box-shaped in Coelophrys), and a small tail. The flattened head and body of these fishes is often referred to as the "disc" and is made up of the head and the body as far as the axilla of the pelvic fins, the forward edge of the disc is made up of the extended bones of the operculum sweeping backwards from the cranium and surrounding the trunk on either side. [11] The largest members of the family are approximately 50 cm (20 in) in standard length. The illicium (a modified dorsal fin ray on the front of the head supporting the esca, a bulbous lure) may be retracted into an illicial cavity above the mouth. [12] The pelvic and anal fins of many species are stout and thick-skinned, so as to support the body off the substrate. These fins also enable batfishes to walk on the seafloor, though the irregular shape of the fins causes most batfishes to swim awkwardly. [9] Many species have large scales forming tubercules or bucklers which form an armour for the fish. [13] These tubercles can be tiny and have long terminal spines, these create the impression that these fishes have a covering of coarse hair. They may also be large and highly calcified, and set closely together to create the appearance of a carapace. They are elaborately shaped, some have bosses, others crests and others have a simple pyramidal shape with no strong relief but these are highly enlarged and have robust terminal spines. The scales along the lateral line are typical scales, sometimes boat shaped, with perforations for the emergent neuromasts. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Ogcocephaloidei batfishes are found in the Indian, Pacific and Western Atlantic Oceans, with 1 species present in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. [1] [14] These benthic fishes are found in tropical to subtropical waters. [15] They are fishes of the outer continental shelf and the continental slope, typically found at depths between 1,500 and 3,000 m (4,900 and 9,800 ft), although one species has been found at 4,000 m (13,000 ft) and others have been found inshore and even within the upstream reaches of rivers. [9] The species in the eastern Pacific/western Atlantic clades have the widest depth ranges with the "Old World" species being restricted to deeper waters. [2]

Biology

Ogcocephalidae fishes do have a luminous esca , as in some other groups of anglerfishes, but secretes a fluid, lasting approximately two minutes, thought to act as a chemical lure which attracts prey such as crabs, snails, shrimp, and small fish. [12] Analysis of their stomach contents indicates that batfishes feed on fish, crustaceans, and polychaete worms. [5] These fishes are assumed not to guard their eggs and, to date, all known larvae and postlarvae are pelagic. [2]

Utilisation

Ogcocephalidae fishes are too small to be of interest to fisheries but some species have been kept in aquariums. [16]

Related Research Articles

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea toad</span> Family of fishes

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.

<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>Halieutichthys</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<i>Malthopsis</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<i>Coelophrys</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<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>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>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.

<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.

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.

<i>Halieutopsis stellifera</i> Species of fish

Halieutopsis stellifera, the starry deepsea batfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific region.

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

Ogcocephalus pantostictus, the spotted batfish, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, somewhat restricted to the northern and the western Gulf of Mexico.

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

Ogcocephalus pumilus, the dwarf batfish, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean. It is the smallest species in the genus Ogcocephalus.

Ogcocephalus rostellum, the palefin batfish, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, the deep sea batfishes. It is found in the western Atlantic 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.

References

  1. 1 2 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. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.12.011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Family Ogcocephalidae - Batfishes. FishBase. 2016.
  3. ↑ Bray, D. J. 2012. Ogcocephalidae: Deep-sea Batfishes. Fishes of Australia, accessed 07 May 2016.
  4. ↑ Ogcocephalidae. Australian Museum.
  5. 1 2 Bertelsen, F. & Pietsch, T.W. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 139–140. ISBN   0-12-547665-5.
  6. ↑ Richard van der Laan; William N. Eschmeyer & Ronald Fricke (2014). "Family-group names of recent fishes". Zootaxa. 3882 (2): 1–230. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1 . PMID   25543675.
  7. ↑ Regan, C.T. (1912). "The classification of the teleostean fishes of the order Pediculati". Annals and Magazine of Natural History Series. 8 & 9: 277–289.
  8. ↑ Arnold, Rachel J. (2014). Evolutionary Relationships of the Enigmatic Anglerfishes (Teleostei: Lophiiformes): Can Nuclear DNA Provide Resolution for Conflicting Morphological and Mitochondrial Phylogenies? (PhD thesis). University of Washington.
  9. 1 2 3 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.
  10. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Ogcocephalidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  11. ↑ Margaret G. Bradbury (1980). "A revision of the fish genus Ogcocephalus with descriptions of new species from the western Atlantic Ocean (Ogcocephalidae; Lophiiformes)". Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 4. 42 (7): 229–285.
  12. 1 2 Theodore W. Pietsch (2005). "Ogcocephalidae". Tree of Life web project. Retrieved 4 April 2006.
  13. ↑ Bray, D.J. (2022). "Deep-sea Batfishes, OGCOCEPHALIDAE". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  14. ↑ Margaret G. Bradbury (1967). "The Genera of Batfishes (Family Ogcocephalidae)". Copeia. 1967 (2): 399–422. doi:10.2307/1442130.
  15. ↑ "Family: OGCOCEPHALIDAE, Batfish, Batfishes". Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute . Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  16. ↑ 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.

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