Family ACHIROPSETTIDAE
Southern Flounders
Compiler and date details
Douglass F. Hoese & Dianne J. Bray
Introduction
The family Achiropsettidae comprises three genera and five or six species. In Australia, two genera and two species are recognised.
Southern flounders are found in southern oceans off Australia, New Zealand, Africa and South America on the continental shelf and continental slope. They reach a maximum size of 57 cm.
The relationships of the genera to other flatfishes have been debated for some time (see Chapleau 1993). Evseenko (1996) placed the achiropsettids in a separate family, but Hensley & Ahlstrom (1984) suggested a relationship with rhombosoleines in the Pleuronectidae. Evseenko (1996) also placed the species recognised here as Mancopsetta milfordi, the sole species found in Australia, in the genus Neoachiropsetta. Nelson (2006), following Evseenko (1996), recognised four genera in the family.
Heemstra (1990) dealt with all the southern flounders. Evseenko (2000) recognised four species in four monotypic genera as a distinct family, the Achiropsettidae; his current classification places the Achiropsettidae as the sister group to the Samaridae.
General References
Chapleau, F. 1993. Pleuronectiform relationships: a cladistic reassessment. Bulletin of Marine Science 52(1): 516-540 figs 1-7
Evseenko, S.A. 1996. Ontogeny and relationships of the flatfishes of the Southern Ocean (Achiropsettidae, Pleuronectoidei). Voprosy Ikhtiologii 36(6): 725-752 [in Russian, translated in Journal of Ichthyology 36(9): 687-712]
Evseenko, S.A. 2000. Family Achiropsettidae and its position in the taxonomic and ecological classifications of Pleuronectiformes. Journal of Ichthyology 40(Suppl. 1): 110-138
Heemstra, P.C. 1990. Achiropsettidae, southern flounders. pp. 408-413, figs 1-5 in Gon, O. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Fishes of the Southern Ocean. Grahamstown : J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology 462 pp.
Hensley, D.A. & Ahlstrom, E.H. 1984. Pleuronectiformes: relationships. pp. 670-687 in Moser, H.G. et al. (eds). Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Publication 1: 1-760
Hoese, D. F. & Bray, D.J. 2006. Achiropsettidae. pp. 1824-1825 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [1824]
Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.
Common Name References
Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp. [438] (Southern Flounders)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08-Jul-2015 | PLEURONECTOIDEI | 19-May-2015 | MODIFIED | Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM) |
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |
Genus Mancopsetta Gill, 1881
- Mancopsetta Gill, T.N. 1881. Pleuronectids without pectorals. Smithsonian Institution. Annual Report 1880: 372 [372] [replacement name for Lepidopsetta].
- Lepidopsetta Günther, A. 1880. Report on the shore fishes procured during the voyage of H.M.S Challenger, in the years 1872–1876. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger 1873–1876, Zoology 1(6): 1-82 pls 1-32 [18] [objectively invalid - preoccupied by the fish genus Lepidopsetta Gill 1862. Replaced by Mancopsetta].
Type species:
Lepidopsetta maculata Günther, 1880 by monotypy.
Distribution
Extra Distribution Information
Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters
IMCRA
Macquarie Island Province (24)
Other Regions
Australian Antarctic Territory, Heard & McDonald Islands (Aust. Terr.)
General References
Ahlstrom, E.H., Amaoka, K., Hensley, D.A., Moser, H.G. & Sumida, B.Y. 1984. Pleuronectiformes: development. pp. 640-670 in Moser, H.G. et al. (eds). Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Publication 1: 1-760 [642]
Evseenko, S.A. 1996. Ontogeny and relationships of the flatfishes of the Southern Ocean (Achiropsettidae, Pleuronectoidei). Voprosy Ikhtiologii 36(6): 725-752 [in Russian, translated in Journal of Ichthyology 36(9): 687-712] [725]
Evseenko, S.A. 1997. Revision of flounders of the genus Mancopsetta Gill, 1881 (Achiropsettidae, Pleuronectiformes) from the Southern Ocean. Voprosy Ikhtiologii 37(4): 444-464 [In Russian. English translation in Journal of Ichthyology v. 37 (no. 6):411-430] [448]
Evseenko, S.A. 2000. Family Achiropsettidae and its position in the taxonomic and ecological classifications of Pleuronectiformes. Journal of Ichthyology 40(Suppl. 1): 110-138 [S114]
Heemstra, P.C. 1990. Achiropsettidae, southern flounders. pp. 408-413, figs 1-5 in Gon, O. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Fishes of the Southern Ocean. Grahamstown : J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology 462 pp. [409]
Hensley, D.A. 1986. Current research on Indo-Pacific bothids. p. 941 in Uyeno, T., Arai, R., Taniuchi, T. & Matsuura, K. (eds). Indo-Pacific Fish Biology. Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Indo-Pacific Fishes. Tokyo : Ichthyological Society of Japan 985 pp. [941]
Hensley, D.A. 1986. Family No. 269: Bothidae. pp. 854-863 in Smith, M.M. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Smith's Sea Fishes. Johannesburg : Macmillan South Africa xx + 1047 pp. 144 pls. [860]
Hoese, D. F. & Bray, D.J. 2006. Achiropsettidae. pp. 1824-1825 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [1825]
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLEURONECTOIDEI | 06-Feb-2012 | ADDED | Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM) |
- Mancopsetta maculata Günther, A. 1880. Report on the shore fishes procured during the voyage of H.M.S Challenger, in the years 1872–1876. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger 1873–1876, Zoology 1(6): 1-82 pls 1-32 [18, Pl.30 (fig.C)].
Type data:
Holotype BMNH 1879.5.14.90, off Prince Edward Island, southern Indian Ocean, 310 fathoms.
Generic Combinations
- Mancopsetta maculata (Günther, 1880). —
Gill, T.N. 1881. Pleuronectids without pectorals. Smithsonian Institution. Annual Report 1880: 372 [372] (changed combination with introduction of name Mancopsetta)
Distribution
Extra Distribution Information
Macquarie Island (54°36'S, 158°44'E), Heard and MacDonald Islands (53°11'S, 74°46'E), and off Mawson (62°04'S, 66°20'E) to off Wilkes Land (64°20'S, 121°08'E), Australian Antarctic Territroy; sub-Antarctic to Antarctic, Southern Ocean
IMCRA
Macquarie Island Province (24)
Other Regions
Australian Antarctic Territory, Heard & McDonald Islands (Aust. Terr.)
Ecological Descriptors
Benthic, continental shelf, continental slope.
Extra Ecological Information
100-1115m
General References
Evseenko, S.A. 1990. On the taxonomic state of the "armless" flounder Achiropsetta slavae (Achiropsettidae). Voprosy Ikhtiologii 30(5): 773-783 [In Russian. English translation in Journal of Ichthyology v. 31 (no. 1):44-56] [780]
Evseenko, S.A. 1996. Early development stages of the Southern Ocean flounders (family Achiropsettidae). Voprosy Ikhtiologii 36(3): 411-415 [In Russian. English translation in Journal of Ichthyology 36 (4): 345-349] [411]
Evseenko, S.A. 1996. Ontogeny and relationships of the flatfishes of the Southern Ocean (Achiropsettidae, Pleuronectoidei). Voprosy Ikhtiologii 36(6): 725-752 [in Russian, translated in Journal of Ichthyology 36(9): 687-712] [726]
Evseenko, S.A. 1997. Revision of flounders of the genus Mancopsetta Gill, 1881 (Achiropsettidae, Pleuronectiformes) from the Southern Ocean. Voprosy Ikhtiologii 37(4): 444-464 [In Russian. English translation in Journal of Ichthyology v. 37 (no. 6):411-430] [450]
Evseenko, S.A. 2000. Family Achiropsettidae and its position in the taxonomic and ecological classifications of Pleuronectiformes. Journal of Ichthyology 40(Suppl. 1): 110-138 [114]
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLEURONECTOIDEI | 06-Feb-2012 | ADDED | Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM) |
- Neoachiropsetta Kotlyar, A.N. 1978. A contribution to the systematics of the 'armless' flounders (Pisces: Bothidae) from southwestern Atlantic. Voprosy Ikhtiologii 18(5): 799-813 [english translation in J. Ichthyol. 18(5): 708–721] [809].
Type species:
Mancopsetta milfordi Penrith, 1965 by original designation.
Miscellaneous Literature Names
- Mancopsetta Gill, 1881 [Neoachiropsetta has been considered a synonym of Mancopsetta in the past].
Distribution
States
Tasmania
Extra Distribution Information
Southern circumglobal.
IMCRA
Tasmania Province (10), Macquarie Island Province (24), West Tasmania Transition (9)
General References
Evseenko, S.A. 1996. Ontogeny and relationships of the flatfishes of the Southern Ocean (Achiropsettidae, Pleuronectoidei). Voprosy Ikhtiologii 36(6): 725-752 [in Russian, translated in Journal of Ichthyology 36(9): 687-712] [725]
Evseenko, S.A. 2000. Family Achiropsettidae and its position in the taxonomic and ecological classifications of Pleuronectiformes. Journal of Ichthyology 40(Suppl. 1): 110-138 [114]
Hensley, D.A. 1986. Current research on Indo-Pacific bothids. p. 941 in Uyeno, T., Arai, R., Taniuchi, T. & Matsuura, K. (eds). Indo-Pacific Fish Biology. Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Indo-Pacific Fishes. Tokyo : Ichthyological Society of Japan 985 pp. [941] (as a synonym of Mancopsetta)
Hensley, D.A. 1986. Family No. 269: Bothidae. pp. 854-863 in Smith, M.M. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Smith's Sea Fishes. Johannesburg : Macmillan South Africa xx + 1047 pp. 144 pls. [860] (as a synonym of Mancopsetta)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08-Jul-2015 | PLEURONECTOIDEI | 19-Jun-2015 | MODIFIED | Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM) |
| 27-Jul-2010 | MODIFIED |
Species Neoachiropsetta milfordi (Penrith, 1965)
Armless Deepsea Flounder, Armless Flounder
- Mancopsetta milfordi Penrith, M.J. 1965. A new species of flat fish, Mancopsetta milfordi, from South Africa, with notes on the genus Mancopsetta. Annals of the South African Museum 48(7): 181-188 figs 1-2 1 pl [181, figs. 1-2, pl. 3].
Type data:
Holotype SAM 24041, west of Cape Town, South Africa.
Generic Combinations
- Neoachiropsetta milfordi (Penrith, 1965). —
Kotlyar, A.N. 1978. A contribution to the systematics of the 'armless' flounders (Pisces: Bothidae) from southwestern Atlantic. Voprosy Ikhtiologii 18(5): 799-813 [english translation in J. Ichthyol. 18(5): 708–721] [809] (changed combination as type of genus Neoachiropsetta)
Distribution
States
Tasmania
Extra Distribution Information
South of Bruny Island (44°08'S, 147°16'E) to west of Arthur River (41°06'S, 143°50'E), TAS, also off Macquarie Island (54°36, 158°44'E); temperate, southern circumglobal.
IMCRA
Tasmania Province (10), Macquarie Island Province (24), West Tasmania Transition (9)
Ecological Descriptors
Benthic, continental slope, soft bottom.
Extra Ecological Information
800–1440 m.
General References
Evseenko, S.A. 1996. Early development stages of the Southern Ocean flounders (family Achiropsettidae). Voprosy Ikhtiologii 36(3): 411-415 [In Russian. English translation in Journal of Ichthyology 36 (4): 345-349] [413]
Evseenko, S.A. 1996. Ontogeny and relationships of the flatfishes of the Southern Ocean (Achiropsettidae, Pleuronectoidei). Voprosy Ikhtiologii 36(6): 725-752 [in Russian, translated in Journal of Ichthyology 36(9): 687-712] [726]
Evseenko, S.A. 2000. Family Achiropsettidae and its position in the taxonomic and ecological classifications of Pleuronectiformes. Journal of Ichthyology 40(Suppl. 1): 110-138 [110]
Heemstra, P.C. 1990. Achiropsettidae, southern flounders. pp. 408-413, figs 1-5 in Gon, O. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Fishes of the Southern Ocean. Grahamstown : J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology 462 pp. [412] (as Mancopsetta milfordi)
Hensley, D.A. 1986. Family No. 269: Bothidae. pp. 854-863 in Smith, M.M. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Smith's Sea Fishes. Johannesburg : Macmillan South Africa xx + 1047 pp. 144 pls. [860] (as Mancopsetta milfordi)
Hoese, D. F. & Bray, D.J. 2006. Achiropsettidae. pp. 1824-1825 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [1825] (as Mancopsetta milfordi)
Common Name References
Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Armless Deepsea Flounder)
Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & Ward, R.D. (eds) 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook. Hobart : CSIRO Marine Research 460 pp. [107] (Armless Flounder)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08-Jul-2015 | PLEURONECTOIDEI | 19-Jun-2015 | MODIFIED | Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM) |
| 27-Jul-2010 | MODIFIED |