Family ISONIDAE

Isonidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

Iso rhothophilus

© Copyright A.R. McCulloch in Waite 1904

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Introduction

Currently, the Isonidae comprise one genus and five species, confined to the Indo-Pacific. One species, Iso rhothophilus, has been recorded from Australia.

Surf sardines are distinctive fishes with head and anterior body deep, body tapering to a slender caudal peduncle, pectoral fins inserted high on the body, usually two separate dorsal fins and a broad, silver mid-lateral stripe on the body. Maximum size for the family is about 6.5 cm standard length. The Indo-Pacific genus Iso is found in the surf zone; little else is known of their biology.

Some authors include the genus in the Notocheiridae (Nelson 1994, 2006). The notocheirids were reviewed by Said (1983), who recognised two genera, with one confined to the New World. Saeed & Ivantsoff (1991) place Iso in its own family. Dyer & Chernoff (1996) included the genus in the Notocheiridae. Saeed et al (1993, 2006) regarded the Isonidae as distinct. Molecular studies have suggested that Iso is not related to Notocheirus, but with the latter genus placed in the Atherinopsidae (Bloom et al. 2012). We follow those works treating the Isonidae as a distinct family.

There is some controversy involving the correct family name for this group when included in the Notocheiridae. Three names are available at the family level as discussed by Saeed et al (1993). Generally, the family has been recorded from Australia under the name Isonidae.

General References

Bloom, D.D., Unmack, P.J., Gosztonyi, A.E., Piller, K.R. & Lovejoy, N.R. 2012. It's a family matter: Molecular phylogenetics of Atheriniformes and the polyphyly of the surf silversides (Family: Notocheiridae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 62: 1025-1030

Dyer, B.S. & Chernoff, B. 1996. Phylogenetic relationships among atheriniform fishes (Teleostei: Atherinomorpha). Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 177: 1-69

McCulloch, A.R. 1921. Checklist of the fishes and fish-like animals of New South Wales. Part 2. The Australian Zoologist 2(2): 14-58 figs 4-24 [pl. 15]

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.

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

Saeed, B., Ivanstoff, W., Aarn 2006. Descriptive anatomy of Iso rhothophilus (Ogilby), with a phylogenetic analysis of Iso and a redefinition of Isonidae (Atheriniformes). Aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology 11: 25–43

Saeed, B., Ivantsoff, W. & Crowley, L.E.L.M. 1993. A new species of surf-inhabiting atheriniform Iso (Pisces: Isonidae). Records of the Western Australian Museum 16(3): 337-346

Saeed, B. & Ivantsoff, W. 1991. Kalyptatherina, the first telmatherinid genus known outside Sulawesi. Ichthyological Explorations of Freshwater 2(3): 227-238

Said, B.M. 1983. Revision of the fish genus Iso. Unpublished MSc Thesis, Macquarie University, Sydney 177 pp. 60 figs.

Waite, E.R. 1904. New records or recurrences of rare fishes from eastern Australia. No. 3. Records of the Australian Museum 5(4): 231-244 figs 33-34 pls 25-26 [pl. 25]

Common Name References

Ivantsoff, W. 1999. Isonidae, Telmatherinidae, Dentatherinidae. pp. 2140-2145 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. [2141] (FAO) (Surf Sardines)

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp. [69] (Surfsardines)

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