Family LINOPHRYNIDAE

Linophrynidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

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Introduction

Members of the Linophrynidae are found in all three oceans at depths of 100 to 2000 m. Worldwide, five genera and about 27 species are recognised (Nelson 2006). Three species in two genera have been recorded in Australian waters. With the exception of Linophryne, all genera are monotypic.

Recorded prey items of linophrynids include fishes and crustaceans. Females are characterised by having three (rarely two or four) dorsal and anal rays and naked skin. Some species have a chin barbel in addition to the illicium. Males are parasitic on the females, which attain a maximum length of 23 cm.

The family was reviewed by Bertelsen (1951) and Bertelsen (1982) revised Linophryne. Bertelsen & Pietsch (1983) reviewed two species, Haplophryne mollis and Linophryne densiramus, known from Australian waters.

General References

Bertelsen, E. 1951. The ceratioid fishes ontogeny, taxonomy, distribution and biology. Dana Reports 39: 1-276 figs 1-141 1 pl.

Bertelsen, E. 1982. Notes on Linophrynidae VIII. A review of the genus Linophryne, with new records and descriptions of two new species. Steenstrupia 8(3): 49-104 figs 1-18

Bertelsen, E. & Pietsch, T.W. 1983. The ceratioid anglerfishes of Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 35(2): 77-99 figs 1-18

Common Name References

Anderson, M.E. & Leslie, R.W. 2001. Review of the deep-sea anglerfishes (Lophiiformes: Ceratioidei) of southern Africa. Ichthyological Bulletin of the J.L.B. Smith Institute, Grahamstown 70: 1-32 [27] (Netdevils)

Pietsch, T.W. 1999. Families Caulophrynidae, Neoceratiidae, Melanocetidae, Himantolophidae, Diceratiidae, Oneirodidae, Thaumatichthyidae, Centrophrynidae, Ceratiidae, Gigantactinidae, Linophrynidae. pp. 2026-2037 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068. [2037] (Deepsea Anglerfishes, Netdevils)

Pollard, J. (ed.) 1980. G.P. Whitley's Handbook of Australian Fishes. North Sydney : Jack Pollard Publishing Pty Ltd 629 pp. [311] (Headlight Anglerfishes)

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