Family BATHYGADIDAE

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Introduction

The family Bathygadidae comprises two genera and 27 described species (Eschmeyer & Fong 2014). Both genera and seven species are known from Australian waters (Iwamoto & McMillan 2008), including one unidentified species, Gadomus sp A (Williams et al. 1996). Bathygadids are benthopelagic fishes found mostly in tropical, but also temperate waters on the continental slope of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans (absent from the west coast of the Americas). Bray et al. (2006) previously included the family in the Macrouridae.

Bathygadids are cod-like fishes with an elongate tapering tail, a more-or-less terminal mouth, snout not protruding, reduced gill filaments, no caudal fin, two closely-spaced dorsal fins not separated by a distinct gap, the first short-based with an elongate flexible spinous ray and 7-10 segmented rays, the second dorsal fin high and extending to the tail tip and confluent with the long-based low anal fin, and thin cycloid deciduous scales. Howes & Crimmen (1990) revised the family, and Australian species have been treated in Iwamoto & Williams (1999), Iwamoto & Graham (2001) and Iwamoto & McMillan (2008). Iwamoto & Merrett (1997) and Merrett & Iwamoto (2000) treated species found in the Coral Sea around New Caledonia.

General References

Bray, D.J., Hoese, D.F., Paxton, J.R. & Gates, J.E. 2006. Macrouridae. pp. 581-607 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.

Eschmeyer, W.N. & Fong, J.D. 2014. Species of Fishes by family/subfamily. Catalog of Fishes. Online version updated 19 May 2014. http://research.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/SpeciesByFamily.asp

Iwamoto, T. & Graham, K.J. 2001. Grenadiers (Families Bathygadidae and Macrouridae, Gadiformes, Pisces) of New South Wales, Australia. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 52(21): 407-509 figs 1-114

Iwamoto, T. & McMillan, P.J. 2008. Family Bathygadidae. pp. 320-347 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Iwamoto, T. & Merrett, N. 1997. Pisces Gadiformes: Taxonomy of grenadiers of the New Caledonian regions, southwest Pacific. pp. 473-570 in Crosnier, A. (ed.). Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris [1936-1950] 176: 1-570

Iwamoto, T. & Williams, A. 1999. Grenadiers (Pisces, Gadiformes) from the continental slope of western and northwestern Australia. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 51(3): 105-243 figs 1-58

Merrett, N.R. & Iwamoto, T. 2000. Pisces Gadiformes: Grenadier fishes of the New Caledonian region, southwest Pacific Ocean. Taxonomy and distribution, with ecological notes. pp. 723-781 in Crosnier, R. (ed.). Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM, v. 21. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris [1936-1950] 184: 1-744

Williams, A., Last, P.R., Gomon, M.F. & Paxton, J.R. 1996. Species composition and checklist of the demersal ichthyofauna of the continental slope off Western Australia (20–35º). Records of the Western Australian Museum 18: 135-155

Common Name References

Iwamoto, T. & McMillan, P.J. 2008. Family Bathygadidae. pp. 320-347 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp. [317] (Bathygadids, Grenadiers, Rat-tails, Whiptails)

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