Family BATHYSAUROPSIDAE

Bathysauropsidae

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Introduction

The family Bathysauropsidae comprises a single genus and two species, with one species found in Australian waters. Sulak (1977) placed the genus Bathysauropsis in the family Chlorophthalmidae, whereas Hartel & Stiassney (1986) placed it in the family Ipnopidae. Baldwin & Johnson (1996) suggested that Bathysauropsis was distinctive from other Aulopiform fishes, and placed the genus in the Giganturoidei. Sato & Nakabo (2002) elevated Bathysauropsis to familial status within the Chlorophthalmoidei. Davis (2010) in an analysis of morphological and molecular characters, concurred with Sato & Nakabo (2002) in retaining Bathysauropsis in the family Bathysauropsidae, and recovered the genus as the sister group to the family Ipnopidae (based on morphological characters). Shcherbachev & Pakhorukov (2002) revised the species.
Bathysauropsis is benthic in depths of 800 to 3000 m. Maximum size is 32 cm.

General References

Baldwin, C.C. & Johnson, G.D. 1996. Interrelationships of Aulopiformes. pp. 355-404 in Stiassny, M.L.J., Parenti, L.R. & Johnson, G.D. (eds). Interrelationships of Fishes. San Diego : Academic Press 496 pp.

Davis, M.P. 2010. Evolutionary relationships of the Aulopiformes (Euteleostei: Cyclosquamata): a molecular and total evidence approach. pp. 431-470 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.

Hartel, K.E. & Stiassny, L.J. 1986. The identification of larval Parasudis (Teleostei, Chlorophthalmidae); with notes on the anatomy and relationships of aulopiform fishes. Breviora. Museum of Comparative Zoology 487: 1-23

Sato, T. & Nakabo, T. 2002. Paraulopidae and Paraulopus, a new family and genus of aulopiform fishes with revised relationships within the order. Ichthyological Research 49: 25-46

Shcherbachev, N.P. & Pakhorukov, N.P. 2002. On diagnostic features and distribution of species of mesobenthic genus Bathysauropsis (Aulopiformes, Ipnopidae). Voprosy Ikhtiologii 42(4): 564-566

Sulak, K.J. 1977. The systematics and biology of Bathypterois (Pisces, Chlorophthalmidae) with a revised classification of benthic myctophiform fishes. Galathea Report 14: 49-108 figs 1-32 pls 1-7

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