Family MALACANTHIDAE

Malacanthidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

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Introduction

Robins et al. (1980) and Nelson (2006) are followed here with recognition of one family, and for that, Malacanthidae is taken as the oldest available name, although Dooley (1999) argued that the name Branchiostegidae takes precedence. Imamura (2000), however, placed the group in the family Dactylopteridae. A summary of arguments for the various placements of this group is provided by Nelson (2006). The tilefishes (or moonfishes in eastern Australia) were reviewed by Dooley (1978), who recognised two families, five genera, and 29 species. Subsequently, Dooley & Kailola (1988) reviewed Branchiostegus. Recent descriptions and collections have increased the number of species in the family to 42 (Allen et al. 2010). Ten species in three genera have been collected from Australian waters. Dooley (1999) presented a key to tropical species from the western Pacific; his key includes all the Australian species.

Tilefishes are found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide with the Malacanthinae (Malacanthus and Hoplolatilus) living in shallow waters in burrows or mounds and the Latilinae (= Branchiosteginae), including Branchiostegus and two genera from the Atlantic and eastern Pacific, occurring from the edge of the continental shelf to 600 m. Recorded food items include molluscs, echinoderms, annelids, crustaceans, ascideans, bryozoans and fishes. Tilefishes have long dorsal and anal fins and larvae with extensive spination. Maximum length for the family is over 1 m. The east coast species of Branchiostegus are of minor commercial importance.

General References

Allen, G.R., Erdmann, M.V. & Hamilton, A.M. 2010. Hoplolatilus randalli, a new species of sand tilefish (Pisces: Malacanthidae) from the tropical western Pacific with comments on the validity of H. luteus. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology [formerly Aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology] 16(4): 171-186

Dooley, J.K. 1978. Systematics and biology of the tilefishes (Perciformes : Branchiostegidae and Malacanthidae), with descriptions of two new species. National Marine Fisheries Service (U.S.). Circular 411: 1-78 figs 1-44

Dooley, J.K. 1999. Family Branchiostegidae. pp. 2630-2648 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.

Dooley, J.K. & Kailola, P.J. 1988. Four new tilefishes from the northeastern Indian Ocean, with a review of the genus Branchiostegus. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 35(3): 247-260

Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. 2006. 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. [1126]

Imamura, H. 2000. An alternate hypothesis on the phylogenetic position of the family Dactylopteridae (Pisces: Teleostei), with a proposed new classification. Ichthyological Research 47(3): 203-222

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

Robins, C.R., Bailey, R.M., Bond, C.E., Brooker, J.R., Lachner, E.A., Lea, R.N. & Scott, W.B. 1980. A list of common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. Fourth edition. American Fisheries Society. Special Publication 12: 1-174

Common Name References

Dooley, J.K. 1999. Family Branchiostegidae. pp. 2630-2648 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. [2630] (FAO) (Amadais, Burrowfishes, Horseheads, Quakerfish, Sand Tilefishes, Tilefishes)

Grant, E.M. 2002. Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe : EM Grant Pty Ltd 880 pp. [349] (Blanquillos)

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp. [165] (Tilefishes)

Paxton, J.R., Hoese, D.F., Allen, G.R. & Hanley, J.E. (eds) 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Pisces: Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 7 665 pp. [565] (eastern Australia) (Moonfishes)

Sainsbury, K.J., Kailola, P.J. & Leyland, G.G. 1984. Continental Shelf Fishes of Northern and North-Western Australia. Canberra : Fisheries Information Service 375 pp. figs & pls. [154] (Tile-fish)

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