Family LOPHOTIDAE

Lophotidae

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Introduction

The Lophotidae have not been reviewed comprehensively, but Olney (1984) summarised the development and relationships of the family. Walters & Fitch (1960) defined the genera, recognising one fossil and two recent genera. Oelschläger (1979) recognised three species in the family. Olney (1999) suggested that the family may contain only two species, although some workers recognise Lophotus capellei Temminck & Schlegel, 1845 as distinct. Craig et al. (2004) recognised at least three species of Lophotus, with distinct species in the north Pacific and south Pacific, but could not solve all the taxonomic problems, including the valid name of the south Pacific species. Roberts (2012) also recognised three species of Lophotus. Nelson (2006) recognised two genera and possibly three species. The family is in need of revision. Two species in two genera are recorded from Australia.

The family occurs worldwide in oceanic waters. Like the related ribbonfishes and oarfishes, crestfishes have an elongate, slender body with a long dorsal fin. A distinctive, high snout carries the anterior dorsal rays including the greatly elongate first ray, giving the appearance of a crest. An internal ink sac opens into the cloaca. Maximum size is approximately 2 m.

General References

Bray, D.J. 2008. Family Lophotidae. pp. 298 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Craig, M.T., Hastings, P.A. & Pondella, D.J. II 2004. Notes on the systematics of the crestfish genus Lophotus (Lampridiformes: Lophotidae), with a new record from California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 103(2): 57-65 fig. 1

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp. [229]

Oelschläger, H.A. 1979. Zur funktionellen Osteologie der Lophotidae (Pisces : Teleostei). Zoologische Jahrbucher. Abteilung für Anatomie 102: 336-360 figs 1-11

Olney, J.E. 1984. Lampridiformes: development and relationships. pp. 368-379 figs 193-201 in Moser, H.G. et al. (eds). Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Publication 1: 1-760

Olney, J.E. 1999. Families Veliferidae, Lamprididae, Stylephoridae, Lophotidae, Radiicephalidae, Trachipteridae, Regalecidae. pp. 1966-1975 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.

Paxton, J.R., Gates, J.E., Bray, D.J. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Lophotidae. pp. 538-539 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.

Roberts, T.R. 2012. Systematics, biology, and distribution of the species of the oceanic oarfish genus Regalecus (Teleostei, Lampridiformes, Regalecidae). Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris (N.S.) [1993-2016] A Zoologie 202: 1-268

Walters, V. & Fitch, J.E. 1960. The families and genera of the lampridiform (Allotriognath) suborder Trachipteroidei. California Fisheries and Game 46(4): 441-451

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. [430] (Crestfishes)

Olney, J.E. 1999. Families Veliferidae, Lamprididae, Stylephoridae, Lophotidae, Radiicephalidae, Trachipteridae, Regalecidae. pp. 1966-1975 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. [1970] (FAO) (Crestfishes, Unicornfish)

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