Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

Alepisauridae

Alepisauridae

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CAAB: 37127000

Family ALEPISAURIDAE

Hammerjaws, Lancetfishes, Omosudids


Compiler and date details

14 July 2016 - John R. Paxton, Douglass F. Hoese, Dianne J. Bray & Jennifer E. Gates

John R. Paxton, Douglass F. Hoese & Jennifer E. Gates

Introduction

The family Alepisauridae was reviewed by Gibbs & Wilimovsky (1966) who recognised two species in a single genus Alepisaurus. Francis (1981) recorded both species from the south-west Pacific and both occur in Australian waters. Johnson & Baldwin (1996) also included Omosudis in the Alepisauridae. Omosudis was reviewed by Ege (1958) and Rofen (1966) who recognised a single species in this circumglobal bathypelagic genus. Paxton & Niem (1999) and Stewart (2015) treated Omosudis as belonging to a monotypic family.

Alepisaurids are meso- and bathypelagic fishes found worldwide. They are predators with large canines on the palatine and lower jaw; recorded prey items include fishes, cephalopods, tunicates and crustaceans. Other characteristics include an elongate body, a high, long dorsal fin and no scales or light organs. Maximum size reached is 2.1 m.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
22-Dec-2016 AULOPIFORMES 14-Jul-2016 MODIFIED Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM)
12-Feb-2010 (import)