| Racovitzia | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Bathydraconidae |
| Genus: | Racovitzia Dollo, 1900 |
| Type species | |
| Racovitzia glacialis Dollo, 1900 | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
Aconichthys Waite, 1916 | |
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.
Racovitzia was formally described as a genus in 1900 by the Belgian palaeontologist Louis Dollo when he was describing the only species in waht was then considered to be a monotypic genus, Racovitzia glacialis [1] the type of which had been collected by the Belgian Antarctic Expedition off the Antarctic at 71°23'S, 87°32'W or 71°19'S, 87°37'W. In 1916 Edgar Ravenswood Waite described Aconichthys harrisoni which has since been determined to be the second species in the genus, [2] however some authorities consider that R harrisoni is a junior synonym of R. glacialis. [3] The genus name honours the Romanian biologist Emil Racoviță who was the naturalist aboard the Belgica the ship which carried and supported the Belgian Antarctic Expedition. [4]
There are currently two recognized species in this genus: [5]
Racovitzia has a slender elongated body which is only slightly compressed and has a long spatulate snout. The body is covered with small, ctenoid scales. There are three lateral lines which are made up of tubular scales. There is a strong ridge on the operculum which ends either in a rounded point or a small number of serrations. The jaws have band of small conical teeth. [3] R. glacialis attains a maximum total length of 28.7 cm (11.3 in). [5]
Racovitzia are found in the Southern Ocean with R. glacialis having a circum-Antarctic distribution on the continental shelf as well as around the South Sandwich Islands, South Orkney Islands, Elephant Island and South Shetland Islands. R. harrissoni is restricted to the southeastern Pacific Ocean off Chile. They are demersal or bathydemersal, deep water fishes found down to around 600 m (2,000 ft). [5] Their biology is little known but they have been recorded feeding on amphipods and krill, and they are probably largely dependant on krill. The presence of larvae in late November suggests that the eggs hatch in Spring. [3]
Notothenioidei is one of 19 suborders from the order Perciformes and that primarily includes Antarctic fish and Subantarctic fish, but also a few species ranging north to southern Australia and southern South America. These species, which are referred to collectively as the notothenioids, account for approximately 90% of the fish fauna biomass in the continental shelf waters surrounding Antarctica.
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.
Champsocephalus esox, the pike icefish or northern icefish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Channichthyidae, the crocodile icefishes.
Champsocephalus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Channichthyidae, the crocodile icefishes. They are 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.
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.
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.
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.
Gobionotothen is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Nototheniidae, the notothens or cod icefishes. They are native to 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.
Patagonotothen is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes, belonging to the family Nototheniidae, the notothens or cod icefishes. They are native to the southeast Pacific Ocean, southern Atlantic Ocean and the Southern Ocean.
Gobionotothen marionensis, the lobe-lip notothen, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nototheniidae, the notothens or cod icefishes. It is native to the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Crozet and Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean.>