Family EMMELICHTHYIDAE

Emmelichthyidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

Holotype of Plagiogeneion macrolepis

© Copyright McCulloch 1914

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Introduction

The Emmelichthyidae, or bonnetmouths, comprise three genera and 15 species (Nelson 2006). The Australian fauna is currently represented by three genera and five species.

Emmelichthyids occur in all seas, approximately between the latitudes of 40ºN and 40ºS, although they have not yet been reported from the south-western Atlantic and the eastern sides of the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans. They inhabit coastal seas of the continental shelf, occurring near the bottom in depths of 100–500 m. Bonnetmouths are elongate, snapper-like fishes, distinguished from related forms by their upper jaw morphology. They feed mainly on large zooplankton. They are occasionally caught in trawls and by hook and line fishing, but comprise only a small portion of commercial landings. Some species grow to a length of 40–50 cm and are considered to be excellent eating.

Heemstra & Randall (1977) revised the family; subsequently additional species have been described.

General References

Heemstra, P.C. & Randall, J.E. 1977. A revision of the Emmelichthyidae (Pisces : Perciformes). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 28: 361-396 figs 1-5

Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. 2006. 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. [1190]

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

Common Name References

Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [595] (Bonnetmouths)

Pollard, J. (ed.) 1980. G.P. Whitley's Handbook of Australian Fishes. North Sydney : Jack Pollard Publishing Pty Ltd 629 pp. [161] (Red Baitfish)

Whitley, G.P. 1948. A list of the fishes of Western Australia. Western Australia Fish Department. Fisheries Bulletin 2: 1-35 map [21] (Redbait, Ruby Fish)

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