Family CETOMIMIDAE

Museums

Regional Maps

External Links

• Mirapinnidae.
• Megalomycteridae.
• Eutaeniophoridae.

 

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Bertelsen, E. & Marshall, N.B. 1984. Mirapinnatoidei: development and relationships. pp. 380-383 figs 202-203 in Moser, H.G. et al. (eds). Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Publication 1: 1-760
• Johnson, G.D., Paxton, J.R., Sutton, T.T., Satoh, T.P., Sado, T., Nishida, M. & Miya, M. 2009. Deep-sea mystery solved: astonishing larval transformations and extreme sexual dimorphism unite three fish families. Biology Letters 5: 235-239

 

Introduction

The families Megalomycteridae and Mirapinnidae were recently synonymized with the Cetomimidae, based on molecular and morphological data (Johnson et al. 2009). The cetomimid whalefishes are all female, and the species previously placed in the families Mirapinnidae (hairyfishes, tapetails) and Megalomycteridae (bignose fishes) were found to be larval and male whalefishes respectively. Miya et al. (2003) had previously proposed that 'mirapinnids' may be larval cetomimds, based on genetic evidence. This hypothesis was previously considered almost impossible based on osteological evidence by Paxton & Johnson (2003).

The larvae live in the upper 200 m, and undergo extraordinary ontogenetic changes as they transform into the extremely sexually dimorphic adult males and females found in bathypelagic depths. Larvae have small, upturned mouths and gorge on copepods. Adult females have huge mouths with long, horizontal jaws and specialized gill arches allowing them to capture larger prey. Males cease feeding, lose their stomach and oesophagus, and are thought to convert the energy from the bolus of copepods found in all transforming males to a massive liver that supports them throughout adult life (Johnson et al. 2009). Life history of the females is discussed by Paxton (1990).

Cetomimid larvae, the 'Mirapinnidae', were described by Bertelsen & Marshall (1956), who recognised four species in three genera. Bertelsen & Marshall (1984) reviewed and combined the family Eutaeniophoridae with the Mirapinnidae. The cetomimid whalefishes (females) were reviewed by Paxton (1989). Maul (1969) provided a key to the species of Cetomimus. Paxton (1999) recognised at least 30 species in the family, 15 of which were undescribed. The family Cetomimidae now comprises 26 species in 11 genera, following Johnson et al 2009, however, some may represent different life stages of single species. Five described species in five genera are iknown from Australian waters, and a sixth species is known from Antarctic and Subantarctic waters. A new species of Cetomimus from off NSW and Japan is being described by Paxton and Trnski. The family is in need of revision to link the larvae, males and females of each species.

 

General References

Bertelsen, E. & Marshall, N.B. 1956. The Miripinnati, a new order of teleost fishes. Dana Reports 42: 1-34 figs 1-15 pl. 1

Bertelsen, E. & Marshall, N.B. 1984. Mirapinnatoidei: development and relationships. pp. 380-383 figs 202-203 in Moser, H.G. et al. (eds). Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Publication 1: 1-760

Johnson, G.D., Paxton, J.R., Sutton, T.T., Satoh, T.P., Sado, T., Nishida, M. & Miya, M. 2009. Deep-sea mystery solved: astonishing larval transformations and extreme sexual dimorphism unite three fish families. Biology Letters 5: 235-239

Maul, G.E. 1969. On the genus Cetomimus (Cetomimidae) with the description of a new species. Bocagiana 18: 1-12 fig. 1

Miya, M., Takeshima, H., Endo, H., Ishiguro, N.B., Inoue, J.G., Mukai, T., Satoh, T.P., Yamaguchi, M., Kawaguchi, A., Mabuchi, K., Shirai, S.M. & Nishida, M. 2003. Major patterns of higher teleostean phylogenies: a new perspective based on 100 complete mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 26: 121-138

Paxton, J.R. 1989. Synopsis of the whalefishes (family Cetomimidae) with descriptions of four new genera. Records of the Australian Museum 41: 135-206

Paxton, J.R. 1990. Whalefishes: little fish with big mouths. Australian Natural History 23(5): 378-385

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.

Paxton, J.R., Gates, J.E., & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Cetomimidae. pp. 754-755 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. [754-755]

Paxton, J.R. & Gates, J.E. 2006. Mirapinnidae. pp. 756-757 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.

Paxton, J.R. & Johnson, G.D. 2003. If tapetails and the hairyfish (Mirapinnidae) are larval whalefishes (Cetomimidae), bignose/mosaic-scale fishes (Megalomycteridae) should be male whalefishes. Abstr. Ann. Meet. Am. Soc. Ichthyol. Herpetol. 2003. 371 pp.

Paxton, J.R. & Trnski, T. 2003. Megalomycteridae. pp. 1176-1177 in Carpenter, K.E. (ed.). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Rome : FAO & American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists Vol. 2 602-1373 pp.

 

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. [2208] (Bignose Fishes, Hairyfishes, Tapetails, Whalefishes)

Paxton, J.R., Trnski, T. & Johnson, G.D. 2016. Cetomimidae. pp. 2174-2182 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. (Flabby Whalefish)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
05-Aug-2022	STEPHANOBERYCIFORMES	09-Jun-2022	MODIFIED	Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM)
		12-Feb-2010	(import)