Family MELANOCETIDAE

Melanocetidae

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Introduction

The melanocetids were revised by Pietsch & Van Duzer (1980), who recognised five species in a single worldwide genus. Two species occur in Australian waters. Pietsch (2009) summarised knowledge of the group.

Recorded food items of female melanocetids include fishes and crustaceans. Melanocetid anglers are characterised by having more than 11 dorsal rays; males are parasitic. Females are typically short and rounded, with a maximum length of 13 cm.

General References

Pietsch, T.W. 2009. Oceanic Anglerfishes. Extraordinary Diversity in the Deep Sea. Berkeley and Los Angeles : University of California Press pp. i-xii + 1-557.

Pietsch, T.W. & Van Duzer, J.P. 1980. Systematics and distribution of ceratioid anglerfishes of the family Melanocetidae with the description of a new species from the eastern North Pacific Ocean. Fishery Bulletin (U.S.) 78(1): 59-87 figs 1-31

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 [3] (Blackdevils)

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. [2028] (FAO) (Blackdevils, Deepsea Anglerfishes)

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