Family PARABROTULIDAE

Parabrotulidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

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Introduction

Members of the Parabrotulidae occur worldwide in deeper parts of the ocean. Currently, two genera and three species are recognised worldwide. A single species is known from Australia.

The false brotulas were recognised as a distinct family by Nielsen et al. (1990). Relationships of the family are uncertain. They are often considered to be related to Zoarcidae, but Anderson (1986) suggested a relationship with Aphyonidae in the Ophidioidei. Nielsen et al. (1999) excluded the family from the Ophidiiformes, but Nelson (2006) is followed here in including the family in the Ophidiiformes awaiting further research.

Maximum size is about 5 cm.

General References

Anderson, M.E. 1986. Order Zoarciformes. pp. 342-343 in Smith, M.M. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Smith's Sea Fishes. Johannesburg : Macmillan South Africa xx + 1047 pp. 144 pls.

Hoese, D.F. 2006. Parabrotulidae. 577 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. [577]

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp. [247]

Nielsen, J.G., Badcock, J. & Merrett, N.R. 1990. New data elucidating the taxonomy and ecology of the Parabrotulidae (Pisces: Zoarcoidei). Journal of Fish Biology 37: 437-448

Nielsen, J.G., Cohen, D.M., Markle, D.F. & Robins, C.R. 1999. Ophidiiform Fishes of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform species known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125 Vol. 18. 178 pp.

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