Introduction

The order Ateleopodiformes contains a single family, Ateleopodidae (Nelson 1994, 2006). Olney et al. (1993) and Wiley & Johnson (2010) discussed relationships. Miya et al. (2005) and Wiley & Johnson (2010) suggested that the ateleopodids be placed between aulopiforms and ctenosquamates.

General References

Miya, M., Satoh, T.P. & Nishida, M. 2005. The phylogenetic position of toadfishes (order Batrachoidiformes) in the higher ray-finned fish as inferred from partitioned Bayesian analysis of 102 whole mitochondrial genome sequences. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society of London 85(3): 289-306

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp. [212]

Olney, J.E., Johnson, G.D. & Baldwin, C.C. 1993. Phylogeny of lampridiform fishes. Bulletin of Marine Science 52: 137-169

Wiley, E.O. & Johnson, G.D. 2010. A teleost classification based on monophyletic groups. pp. 123-182 in Nelson, J.S., Schultze, H.-P. & Wilson, M.V.H. Origin and Phylogenetic Interrelationships of Teleosts. München, Germany : Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil 480 pp. [143]

Common Name References

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp. [212] (Jellynose Fishes)

History of changes

Introduction

The family Ateleopodidae currently comprises 13 species in four genera worldwide (Eschmeyer 2011). Rivero (1935) summarised the family. A single species, Ateleopus japonicus is tentatively recognised from Australia. Although considerable Australian material referable to the genus Ateleopus is available, no thorough work has been completed. Initial investigations, however, by M.F. Gomon (pers. comm.) indicate that there are several undescribed species of both Ateleopus and Ijimaia in Australian waters. The family is in great need of revision (Nelson 2006; M. Gomon, pers. comm.).

Jellynose fishes usually inhabit tropical and subtropical waters, and rarely temperate waters of all oceans. They are benthic on the outer shelf and slope down to about 600 m. They are distinctive in having a poorly ossified skeleton, a bulbous gelatinous snout and inferior mouth, and short dorsal and long anal fins. Ateleopus has elongate pelvic-fin rays, whereas the pelvic-fin rays of Ijimaia are noticeably reduced. Maximum size for the family is about 2 m.

General References

Eschmeyer, W.N. 2011. Catalog of Fishes. Online version updated 29 March 2011. http://research.calacademy.org/redirect?url=http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/Ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Rivero, L.H. 1935. The family Ateleopidae and its West Indian form. Memorias de la Sociedad Cubana de Historia Natural "Felipe Poey" 9: 91-106 pl. 8

Common Name References

Moore, J.A. 1999. Family Ateleopodidae. 1918 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068. [1918] (Jellynoses, Tadpole Fishes)

History of changes

• Ateleopus Temminck, C.J. & Schlegel, H. 1847. Pisces. 248-289 pls 111-128, 129 (in part) in Siebold, P. Fr de (ed.). Fauna Japonica. Leyden : Apud Arnz & Socios Vol. 4(14, 15). [page numbers and publication dates according to Bauchot et al. 1982:67] [255].

  Type species:

   Ateleopus japonicus Bleeker, 1853 by subsequent monotypy, see Bleeker, P. 1853. Nalezingen op de ichthyologie van Japan. Verhandelingen van het Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen 25: 1-56 pls 6-10 [19].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Circumglobal.

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Northwest Transition (3), Northwest Province (4), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE oceanic
  • Queensland: NE oceanic
  • Tasmania: S oceanic, SE oceanic
  • Victoria: SE oceanic
  • Western Australia: NW oceanic, W oceanic

History of changes

• Ateleopus japonicus Bleeker, P. 1853. Nalezingen op de ichthyologie van Japan. Verhandelingen van het Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen 25: 1-56 pls 6-10 [19].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, Nagasaki, Japan.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Off Kalbarri, WA, to north of Cape Stewart, NT, and off Weymouth Bay, Cape York, QLD, to off south-western Tasmania; tropical, west Pacific. This essentially represents the distribution of the family in Australian waters, as the ateleopodids are yet to be closely examined.

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Northwest Transition (3), Northwest Province (4), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE oceanic
  • Queensland: NE oceanic
  • Tasmania: S oceanic, SE oceanic
  • Victoria: SE oceanic
  • Western Australia: NW oceanic, W oceanic

Ecological Descriptors

Continental slope, marine.

Extra Ecological Information

205-550 m.

Common Name References

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Pacific Jellynose Fish)

History of changes