| Prionodraco | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Bathydraconidae |
| Genus: | Prionodraco Regan, 1914 |
| Species: | P. evansii |
| Binomial name | |
| Prionodraco evansii Regan, 1914 | |
Prionodraco is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bathydraconidae, the Antarctic dragonfishes, its only species is Prionodraco evansii. These fishes are native to the Southern Ocean.
Prionodraco was first described as a genus in 1914 by the British ichthyologist Charles Tate Regan when he was describing the only species in this monotypic genus Prionodraco evansii, [1] the type of which had been collected by the Terra Nova Expedition in the Ross Sea and in McMurdo Sound. [2] The genus name compounds prion which means "saw", a reference to V-shaped serrated bony plates on the flanks and draco meaning "dragon", a common suffix used in name notothenioids, while the specific name honours Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans the captain of the Terra Nova . [3]
Prionodraco has a scaleless naked body with a quadrilateral cross-section which has scales only on the lateral lines and bony V-shaped plates with serrated margins situated along the angles of the body. There are two lateral lines, the middle line only having perforated scales while the upper one has tubed scales. The jaws are lined with bands of small conical teeth, some of which may be enlarged. The ridge on the operculum ends in a hooked spine. There are 34-38 soft rays in the dorsal fin while the anal fin has 28-33. [4] This species attains a maximum total length of 15.5 cm (6.1 in) and a maximum published weight of 17 g (0.60 oz). [5] In alcohol, the overall colour is brown with variably sized black spots on the head and body and a large dark spot on the dorsal fin. [4]
Prionodraco occurs in the Southern Ocean and has been recorded from the South Orkney Islands and South Shetland Islands, the northern tip of Antarctic Peninsula as far south as 65°S and the continental shelf of Antarctica. They are demersal fishes which are found at depths of 70 to 550 m (230 to 1,800 ft). [5]
Prionodraco spawning appears to take place in the autumn and early winter. The eggs probably hatch in the following spring and the total length of the larvae at hatching is around 12 mm (0.47 in), the pelagic phase of the larvae is brief. Sexual maturity is reached at a total length of 10 cm (3.9 in). Their diet is dominated by polychaetes and benthic crustaceans. [5]
The Bathydraconidae, or the Antarctic dragonfishes, are a family of marine ray-finned fishes, notothenioids belonging to the Perciform suborder Notothenioidei. The family comprises four genera. These fishes are endemic to deep waters off Antarctica.
The painted notie, or painted notothen, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, belonging to the family Nototheniidae, the notothens or cod icefishes. It is native to the Southern Ocean.
Dolloidraco is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish, its only known species being Dolloidraco longedorsalis, belonging to the family Artedidraconidae, the barbeled plunderfishes. It is native to the Southern Ocean in the waters around Antarctica.
Acanthodraco is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bathydraconidae, the Antarctic dragonfishes, its only species is DeWitt’s dragonfish. They are found in the Southern Ocean and the southeastern Pacific Ocean.
Akarotaxis is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bathydraconidae, the Antarctic dragonfish, its only species is Akarotaxis nudiceps. They are found in the Southern Ocean along the continental shelf of Antarctica.
Bathydraco is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Bathydraconidae, the Antarctic dragonfishes. They are native to the Southern Ocean.
Mawson's dragonfish is a species of Antarctic dragonfish native to the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. It is found at depths of from 110 to 300 metres over the continental shelf. This species is the only known member of its genus.
Gerlachea is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bathydraconidae, the Antarctic dragonfishes, its only species is Gerlachea australis. It is found at depths of from 200 to 670 metres over the Antarctic continental shelf. This species is the only known member of its genus.
The ploughfish is a species of Antarctic dragonfish native to the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. It is found at depths of from 0 to 550 m over the Antarctic continental shelf. This species is the only known member of its genus.
Parachaenichthys is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bathydraconidae, the Antarctic dragonfishes. They are found in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica.
Psilodraco is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bathydraconidae, the Antarctic dragonfishes, its only species is Psilodraco breviceps. These fishes are native to the Southern Ocean.
Racovitzia is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bathydraconidae, the Antarctic dragonfishes. They are found in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica.
Vomeridens is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bathydraconidae, the Antarctic dragonfishes, its only species is Vomeridens infuscipinnis. These fishes are native to the Southern Ocean.
Chaenodraco wilsoni, the spiny icefish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Channichthyidae, the crocodile icefishes. It is native to the Southern Ocean. This species is the only known member of its genus. It is of minor interest to commercial fisheries.
Channichthys is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Channichthyidae, the crocodile icefishes. They are native to the Southern Ocean.
Chionobathyscus dewitti is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Channichthyidae, the crocodile icefishes. This species is found in the Southern Ocean.
Dacodraco is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Channichthyidae, the crocodile icefishes, its only member is Dacodraco hunteri. This species is found in the Southern Ocean.
Pagetopsis is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Channichthyidae, the crocodile icefishes. The species in this genus are found in the Southern Ocean.
Pseudochaenichthys is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Channichthyidae, the crocodile icefishes. Its only member is Pseudochaenichthys georgianus, the South Georgia icefish, which is found in the Southern Ocean.
Nototheniops is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Nototheniidae, the notothens or cod icefishes. The species in this genus are native to the Southern Ocean.