Family BARBOURISIIDAE

Barbourisiidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

Museums

Regional Maps

External Links

Introduction

The family Barbourisiidae comprises a single genus and species, Barbourisia rufa (Paxton 2016), known as the Redvelvet Whalefish, found in all three oceans.

Barbourisia rufa has been taken in bottom trawls from 385–1500 m, and in midwater trawls from 250–2000 m. One specimen has been captured from 250–300 m at night in a closing net off Hawaii, indicating the possibility of vertical migration. They are characterised by having small, non-imbricate body scales with a single, central spine, a large lateral line canal with small pores, abdominal pelvic fins and a bright orange-red colour in life. They reach at least 39 cm in length.

The family was reviewed by Kotlyar (1995). Paxton (1999) and Paxton & Stewart (2015) provided information on the family and relationships are discussed by Paxton et al. (2001).

General References

Kotlyar, A.N. 1995. Osteology and distribution of Barbourisia rufa (Barbourisiidae). Voprosy Ikhtiologii 35(3): 282-289 [in Russian, English transl. in J. of Ichthyol. 35(6): 140-150]

Paxton, J.P., Johnson, G.D. & Trnski, T. 2001. Larvae and juveniles of the deepsea "whalefishes" Barbourisia and Rondeletia (Stephanoberyciformes: Barbourisiidae, Rondeletiidae) with comments on family relationships. Records of the Australian Museum 53: 407-425

Paxton, J.R. 1999. Families Gibberichthyidae, Rondeletiidae, Barbourisiidae, Cetomimidae, Mirapinnidae, Megalomycteridae, Anoplogastridae, Diretmidae. pp. 2203-2211 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790. [2205]

Paxton, J.R. 2016. Barbourisiidae. pp. 2172-2173 in Carpenter, K.E. & De Angelis, N. (eds.). The Living Marine Resources of the Eastern Central Atlantic. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. Bony Fishes Part 1 (Elopiformes to Scorpaeniformes). Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1511-2350.

Paxton, J.R. & Stewart, A.L. 2015. Family Barbourisiidae. pp. 996-997 in Roberts, C.D., Stewart, A.L. & Struthers, C.D. The Fishes of New Zealand. Wellington : Te Papa Press Vol. 2 pp. 1-576.

Common Name References

Paxton, J.R. 1999. Families Gibberichthyidae, Rondeletiidae, Barbourisiidae, Cetomimidae, Mirapinnidae, Megalomycteridae, Anoplogastridae, Diretmidae. pp. 2203-2211 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790. [2205] (FAO) (Redvelvet Whalefish)

History of changes