Family GNATHANACANTHIDAE

Gnathanacanthidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

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Introduction

The monotypic family Gnathanacanthidae is endemic to the coastal waters of southern Australia. The single species, the Red Velvetfish, Gnathanacanthus goetzeei, was reviewed in detail by Scott (1986), Gomon (1994) and Johnson (2008).

Gnathanacanthus goetzeei is closely related to Pataecidae, but differs in the presence of pelvic fins, papillae on the skin and the deeply notched or separate dorsal fin unattached to the caudal fin. These features, with the red-orange colour, combine to make the red velvetfish distinctive among scorpaeniform fishes. Smith & Wheeler (2006) confirmed the presence of venom glands associated with fin spines. The red velvetfish attains 30 cm standard length.

General References

Gomon, M.F. 1994. Family Gnathanacanthidae. pp. 512-514 fig. 457 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.

Johnson, J.W. 2008. Family Gnathanacanthidae. 506 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp. [506]

Scott, E.O.G. 1986. Observations on Tasmanian fishes. Part 31. Review of Gnathanacanthidae. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 120: 51-75 figs 1-4

Smith, W.L. & Wheeler, W.C. 2006. Venom evolution widespread in fishes: a phylogenetic rode map for the bioprospecting of piscine venoms. Journal of Heredity 97(3): 206-217 [208]

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. [512] (Red Velvetfish)

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