Hoplichthys

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Hoplichthys
Hoplichthys langsdorfii.jpg
Hoplichthys langsdorfii
Hoplichthys filamentosus.jpg
Hoplichthys filamentosus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Suborder: Platycephaloidei
Family: Hoplichthyidae
Kaup, 1873 [1]
Genus: Hoplichthys
Cuvier, 1829 [2]
Type species
Hoplichthys langsdorfii
G. Cuvier, 1829 [2]
Synonyms [2]
  • AcanthoplichthysFowler, 1943
  • MonhoplichthysFowler, 1938
  • PristhoplichthysFowler, 1938
  • RhinhoplichthysFowler, 1938

Hoplichthys, the ghost flatheads, is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This genus is the only member of the family Hoplichthyidae.

Contents

Taxonomy

Hoplichthys was first proposed as a monotypic genus in 1829 by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier when he described its type species, and only species at that time, H. langsdorfi from Japan. [2] In 1873 the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup considered that the genus Hoplichthys was so different from other "flathead" taxa that it merited placing in a monogeneric family, the Hoplichthyidae. [1] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies this family within the suborder Platycephaloidei in the order Scorpaeniformes. [3] Other authorities differ and do not consider the Scorpaeniformes to be a valid order because the Perciformes is not monophyletic without the taxa within the Scorpaeniformes being included within it. These authorities consider the Platycephalidae to belong to the suborder Platycephaloidei, along with the families Bembridae, Parabembridae, Platycephalidae and Plectrogeniidae within the Perciformes. [4] However, some workers have put forward evidence that there may be a rather surprising sister group relationship between this family and the gobies as they share more seemingly unique derived characters with each other than with other taxa, this needs to be further investigated,. [3]

Etymology

Hoplichthys combines hoplo, meaning "armed", with ichthys, which means fish. There is series of large bony plates on the body of H. langsdorfii, each of which bears two spines and this is thought what the first part of the genus name refers to. Cuvier spelled it as Oplichthys in hist text but it was Hoplichthys in the table of contents and this is the prevailing usage. [5]

Species

There are currently 17 recognized species in this genus: [6]

Characteristics

Hoplichthys ghost flatheads have a very wide, flattened head, an elongate body which has no scales but does have many spines and ridges on the upper body, There is a row of large spined bony plates, called scutes, running along the middle of the flanks. The lowermost 3 to 5 fin rays of the pectoral fin are separated from the membrane. [10] There are no spines in the anal fin and they have 26 vertebrae. [3] They have large mouths with tiny villiform teeth in the jaws, on the vomer, on the palatine and in the pharynegeals. There are two separate dorsal fins, the first is short-based and contains 6 or 7 spines and the second is long-based and contains between 13 and 16 soft rays. The anal fin has a single spine and between 15 and 17 soft rays and is around the same length as the second dorsal fin. The caudal fin can be rounded or it can be emarginate. The pelvic fins are located on the thoraxand have a single spine and 5 soft rays. The majority of the species are yellow, pinkish, or brown in colour on the upper body and flanks, with various spots and mottles, and they are pink, white or silver ventrally. The pectoral fins vary in colour from yellowish brown to hyaline marked with crossbarring, spotting or mottling. The first dorsal fin is frequently dark towards its rear, or has wavy line across it. The caudal fin is typically hyaline, although in some species it has a dark distal margin or spots at the base. [11] The maximum length attained by these fishes varies from a standard length of 6.7 cm (2.6 in) in H. fasciatus to 43 cm (17 in) in H. haswelli. [12]

Distribution, habitat and biology

Hoplichthys ghost flatheads have an Indo-Pacific distribution, occurring from the eastern coast of Africa to Hawaii. [6] they are benthic fishes living on the bottom in continental shelf and slope waters at depths between 50 and 1,500 m (160 and 4,920 ft). [10] The larvae and juveniles are found in shallower water than the adults. These fishes prey on a variety of crustaceans and other fishes. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armoured flathead</span> Species of fish

The armoured flathead, also known as the deepsea flathead, glassy flathead or spiny flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish of the family Hoplichthyidae, the ghost flatheads. This species is found in the southwest Pacific Ocean.

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

The Platycephalidae are a family of marine fish, most commonly referred to as flatheads. They are relatives of the popular lionfish, belonging to the order Scorpaeniformes.

<i>Platycephalus</i> Genus of fishes

Platycephalus is a genus of mostly marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. They are found in the eastern Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tentacled flathead</span> Species of fish

The tentacled flathead, also known as the Indian Ocean crocodilefish, Madagascar flathead or longhead flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. This species is in the western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, having invaded as a Lessepsian migrant through the Suez Canal. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Papilloculiceps.

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

Bembridae, the deep-water flatheads, are a family of bottom-dwelling ray-finned fishes. They are found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.

<i>Bembras</i> Genus of fishes

Bembras is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bembridae, the deepwater flatheads. These fishes are found in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platycephaloidei</span> Suborder of fish

Platycephaloidei is a suborder of ray-finned fishes, part of the order Scorpaeniformes, and includes the flatheads, ghost flatheads and sea robins.

<i>Cociella</i> Genus of fishes

Cociella is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Cymbacephalus</i> Genus of fishes

Cymbacephalus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Grammoplites</i> Genus of fishes

Grammoplites is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Onigocia</i> Genus of fishes

Onigocia is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. They are found in the Indo-Pacific region.

Ratabulus is a genus of marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. These fishes are native to the eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Rogadius</i> Genus of fishes

Rogadius is a genus of marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. These fishes are native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

The Guinea flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean along the western coast of Africa. This species is the only known member of the genus Solitas. It is also the only flathead species which has a natural distribution which lies outside of the Indo-Pacific.

<i>Insidiator</i> Genus of fishes

Insidiator is a genus of marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. These fishes are native to the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Sunagocia</i> Genus of fishes

Sunagociais a genus of marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. These fishes are native to the Indian and Pacific oceans.

<i>Thysanophrys</i> Genus of fishes

Thysanophrys is a genus of marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. These fishes are native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Plectrogenium</i> Genus of fishes

Plectrogenium, is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes, the stinger flatheads, the only genus classified within the subfamily Plectrogeninae, which in turn is classified within the family Scorpaenidae. This genus is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Platycephalus bassensis</i> Species of fish

Platycephalus bassensis the Southern sand flathead, Bass flathead, bay flathead, common flathead, sand flathead, sandy, sandy flathead, slimy flathead or yanks, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is endemic to Australia.

Cociella martingomoni is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Andaman Sea.

References

  1. 1 2 Richard van der Laan; William N. Eschmeyer & Ronald Fricke (2014). "Family-group names of Recent fishes". Zootaxa. 3882 (2): 001–230. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1 . PMID   25543675.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Hoplichthyidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Wiley. pp. 467–495. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6.
  4. ↑ Ricardo Betancur-R; Edward O. Wiley; Gloria Arratia; et al. (2017). "Phylogenetic classification of bony fishes". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 17 (162): 162. doi: 10.1186/s12862-017-0958-3 . PMC   5501477 . PMID   28683774.
  5. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (7 December 2021). "Order Perciformes (Part 11): Suborder Platycephaloidei: Families Bembridae, Parabembridae, Hoplichthyidae, Platycephalidae and Plectrogeniidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  6. 1 2 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Hoplichthys". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Nagano, Y., Imamura, H. & Yabe, M. (2014): A new ghost flathead (Scorpaeniformes: Hoplichthyidae) from southwestern Australia. Ichthyological Research, 62 (3): 245-252.
  8. ↑ Nagano, Y., McGrouther, M.A. & Yabe, M. (2013): A new species of the hoplichthyid genus Hoplichthys (Teleostei: Hoplichthyidae) from northern Western Australia. Zootaxa, 3681 (3): 241–248.
  9. ↑ Nagano, Y., Endo, H. & Yabe, M. (2013): Hoplichthys mimaseanus, a New Ghost Flathead from East Asia and Western Australia (Teleostei: Hoplichthyidae). Bulletin of the National Museum of Natural Science, Ser. A., Supplement No. 7: 1–9.
  10. 1 2 Dianne J. Bray. "Hoplichthys". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  11. 1 2 M. A. McGrouther (1999). "Hoplichthyidae Ghost Flatheads (spiny flatheads)". In Carpenter, K.E.; Niem, V.H. (eds.). FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO, Rome. pp. 24225–2424. ISBN   9251043019.
  12. ↑ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2022). Species of Hoplichthys in FishBase . February 2022 version.
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