Species Macroramphosus scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common Bellowsfish, Common Bellows-fish, Common Snipefish, Long Nosed Snipefish, Longspine Snipefish, Snipefish
- Balistes scolopax Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundem classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae : Laurentii Salvii Vol. 1 10, 824 pp. [329] [as Balistes Scolopax].
Type data:
Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, Mediterranean Sea
Comment: Neotype designated by Fricke 1999 (Annotaed checklist of the marine and esturine fishes of Germany, with remarks of their taxonomic identity. Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde. Serie A (Biologie). No. 587: 1-67.[37]) but withdrawn in Fricke 2000 (Invalid neotypes. Copeia 2000 (no. 2): 639-640. [639]). - Centriscus velitaris Pallas, P.S. 1770. Spicilegia Zoologica, quibus novae imprimus et obscurae animalium species iconibus, descriptionibus atque commentariis illustrantur. Berlin Tom. 1 Fasc. 8 54 pp. 5 pls. [36, pl. 4(8)].
Type data:
Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, Ambon Island, Indonesia. Type data:
Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, Marseilles, France.- Macrorhamphosus scolopax elevatus Waite, E.R. 1899. Scientific results of the trawling expedition of H.M.C.S. Thetis off the coast of New South Wales. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 4: 1-132 figs 1-10 pls 1-31 [59, pl. 7(1)] [proposed as a var.].
Type data:
Lectotype AM I.3970, off Newcastle Bight, NSW.
Paralectotype(s) AM IA.1563-1572; QM I.1562; QM I.4009.Subsequent designation references:
McCulloch, A.R. 1924. Ichthyological items, No. 2. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 8(1): 61-76 figs 1-6 pls 11-14 [64]. - Macrorhamphosus gallinago Ogilby, J.D. 1908. Descriptions of new Queensland fishes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 21: 87-98 [92].
Type data:
Lectotype QM I.4009 (formerly AFAQ 639), Tweed Heads, NSW.Subsequent designation references:
McCulloch, A.R. 1924. Ichthyological items, No. 2. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 8(1): 61-76 figs 1-6 pls 11-14 [64]. - Macrorhamphosus lancifer Ogilby, J.D. 1910. On some new fishes from the Queensland coast. Endeavour Series No. 1 23: 85-139 [originally intended for publication in Proc. R. Soc. Qld] [90].
Type data:
Holotype AM E.2971, off Cape Moreton, QLD, 73 fathoms. - Macroramphosus robustus Ogilby, J.D. 1910. On some new fishes from the Queensland coast. Endeavour Series No. 1 23: 85-139 [originally intended for publication in Proc. R. Soc. Qld] [91].
Type data:
Holotype QM I.1562, off Cape Moreton, QLD.
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- Ehrich, S. 1990. Macroramphosidae. pp. 656-657 in Quéro, J.-C., Hureau, J.-C., Karrer, C., Post, A. & Saldanha, L. (eds). Check-list of the Fishes of the Eastern Tropical Atlantic. Paris : UNESCO 1492 pp., 3 vols. [656]
- Gomon, M.F. 1994. Family Macroramphosidae. pp. 436-440 figs 388-390 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [438]
Generic Combinations
- Macroramphosus elevatus (Waite, 1899). —
McCulloch, A.R. 1911. Report on the fishes obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour on the coasts of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Part 1. Zoological (Biological) Results. Endeavour 1(1): 1-87 figs 1-20 pls 1-16 [23] (changed combination in raising to species) - Macroramphosus scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758). —
Gill, T.N. in Goode, G.B. & Bean, T.H. 1896. Oceanic ichthyology, a treatise on the deep-sea and pelagic fishes of the world, based chiefly upon the collections made by the steamers Blake, Albatross, and Fish Hawk in the northwestern Atlantic, with an atlas containing 417 figures. Special Bulletin. United States National Museum 2: i-xxxv + 1-26 + 1-553, Atlas: i-xxiii, 1-26, 123 pls [483] (changed combination) - Orthichthys velitaris (Pallas, 1770). —
Whitley, G.P. & Allan, J. 1958. The Sea-horse and its Relatives. Melbourne : Georgian House 84 pp. 25 figs. [71] (changed combination cited) - Macroramphosus velitaris (Pallas, 1770). —
Regan, T.C. 1914. A synopsis of the fishes of the family Macrorhamphosidae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Zoology, Botany, Geology 8 13: 17-21 [20] (changed combination)
McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part I. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 1–144 [83] (changed combination cited)
Miscellaneous Literature Names
- Macrorhamphosus scolopax Linnaeus, 1758 [broadly applied misspelling of the genus Macroramphosus by many authors (see Introduction to Family)].
- Macrorhamphosus velitaris (Pallas, 1770) [misspelling of generic name]. —
Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [95] - Macroramphosus elevatus Waite, 1899 [misspelling of generic name]. —
Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [95]
Introduction
There has been considerable uncertainty over the status of species of Macroramphus. Two morphological forms have been recognised, distinguished by coloration and body form. In recent years, most workers treated both as distinct and widely distributed species, largely found in temperate environments. Clarke (1984) showed that males and females could be recognised of each morphological form using discriminate function analyses. Matthiessen et al. (2003) found similar results for western Ocean material. However, genetic studies of specimens from the eastern Atlantic did not find any genetic differences between the two forms. That study also found several individuals that were morphologically intermediate between the two forms (Robalo et al 2009). Subsequently, Noguchi et al. (2015) also found no genetic differences between the two forms. The scolopax form is known to be a benthic feeder and the gracilis form a planktonic feeder. Consequently Noguchi et al. (2015) suggested that these forms represent ecological morphotypes. They did note a genetic difference between material from the North Pacific and North-eastern Atlantic. Matthiessen et al. (2003) suggested that western Indian Ocean material differed morphologically from Australian material, which is also supported by publicly available DNA barcoding results. Fritzsche (2016) suggested that the separation of the two forms has not been fully resolved. Tentatively we retain the two names because they represent ecological forms, but recognise that they are probably not distinct species. At present Australian material has not been studied extensively and we retain the names scolopax and gracilis until more detailed studies are carried out.
Distribution
States
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Extra Distribution Information
South of Saumarez Reef, Coral Sea (22º12´S, 153º30'E) to southwest of Coral Bay, WA (23º25'S, 113º04'E), including TAS, also Elizabeth Reef, Lord Howe Rise and Norfolk Ridge; circumglobal, mostly in temperate latitudes.
IMCRA
Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Lord Howe Province (14), Central Eastern Transition (15), Northeast Province (18), Norfolk Island Province (21), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7), Southern Province (8), West Tasmania Transition (9)
Other Regions
Coral Sea Islands Territory
Distribution References
- Gill, A.C. & Reader, S.E. 1992. Fishes. pp. 90-93, 193-228 in Hutchings, P. (ed.). Reef Biology. A Survey of Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, South Pacific. Canberra : Australian National Parks Vol. 3, Kowari 230 pp. [199]
- Williams, A., Last, P.R., Gomon, M.F. & Paxton, J.R. 1996. Species composition and checklist of the demersal ichthyofauna of the continental slope off Western Australia (20–35º). Records of the Western Australian Museum 18: 135-155 [151] (northern limit on west coast)
Ecological Descriptors
Benthic, continental shelf, continental slope, schooling.
Extra Ecological Information
60-500m
General References
Assis, C. A. 1992. On the systematics of Macrorhamphosus scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758) and Macrorhamphosus gracilis (Lowe, 1839). I. -- A preliminary biometrical approach. Boletim da Sociedade Portuguesa de Ciências Naturais 25: 5-19 [5]
Assis, C. A. 1993. On the systematics of Macrorhamphosus scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758) and Macrorhamphosus gracilis (Lowe, 1839). II-- multivariate morphometric analysis. Arquivos do Museu Bocage Nova série 2(22): 383-402 [399]
Borges, L. 2001. A new maximum length for the snipefish Macroramphosus scolopax. Cybium 25(2): 191-192 [191]
Clarke, T.A. 1984. Diet and morphological variation in snipefishes, presently recognized as Macrorhamphosus scolopax, from southeast Australia: evidence for two sexually dimorphic species. Copeia 1984(3): 595-608 [607] (As (tentatively) Macrorhamphosus elevatus)
Coleman, N. 1980. Australian Sea Fishes South of 30ºS. Lane Cove, NSW : Doubleday Australia Pty Ltd 309 pp. [83] (as M. elevatus)
Fricke, R., Kulbicki, M. & Wantiez, L. 2011. Checklist of the fishes of New Caledonia, and their distribution in the Southwest Pacific Ocean (Pisces). Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde. Serie A (Biologie) Neue Serie 4: 341-463 [377]
Fritzsche, R.A. 2016. Macroramphosidae. pp. 2246-2248 in Carpenter, K.E. & De Angelis, N. (eds.). The Living Marine Resources of the Eastern Central Atlantic. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. Bony Fishes Part 1 (Elopiformes to Scorpaeniformes). Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1511-2350. [2048]
Fritzsche, R.A. & Thiesfeld, K.G. 1999. Families Aulostomidae, Fistulariidae, Macrorhamphosidae, Centriscidae. pp. 2277-2282 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. [2280]
Gomon, M.F. 1994. Family Macroramphosidae. pp. 436-440 figs 388-390 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [438]
Gomon, M.F. 2008. Macroramphosidae. pp. 480-484 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp. [482]
Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Checklist of the fishes of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 63: 9-50 [26] (As M. elevatus and M. scolopax)
Kuranaga, I. & Sasaki, K. 2000. Larval development in a snipefish (Macroramphosus scolopax) from Japan with notes on eastern Pacific and Mediterranean Macroramphosus larvae (Gasterosteiformes, Macroramphosidae). Ichthyological Research 47(1): 101-106 [101]
Matthiessen, B., Fock, H.O. & Westernhagen, H. von 2003. Evidence for two sympatric species of snipefishes Macroramphosus spp. (Syngnathiformes, Centriscidae) on Great Meteor Seamount. Helgoland Marine Research 57: 63–72
McCulloch, A.R. 1924. Ichthyological items, No. 2. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 8(1): 61-76 figs 1-6 pls 11-14 [56]
McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part I. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 1–144 [83] (as Macroramphosus elevatus, in part, and as M. velitaris)
Miyazaki, E., Sasaki, K., Mitani, T., Ishida, M. & Uehara, S. 2004. The occurrence of two species of Macroramphosus (Gasterosteiformes: Macroramphosidae) in Japan: morphological and ecological observations on larvae, juveniles and adults. Ichthyological Research 51: 256-262 [256]
Mohr, E. 1937. Revision der Centriscidae (Acanthoptergii, Centrisciformes). Dana Reports 13: 1-69 figs 1-33 pls 1-2 [36]
Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [95] (653 as M. elevatus and 655 as M. velitaris)
Noguchi , T., Sakuma, K., Kitahashi, T., Itoh, H., Kano, Y., Shinohara, G., Hashimoto, J. & Kojima, S. 2015. No genetic deviation between two morphotypes of the snipefishes (Macroramphosidae: Macroramphosus) in Japanese waters. Ichthyological Research 62: 368-373
Paxton, J.R., Gates, J.E., Bray, D.J. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Macroramphosidae. pp. 851-855 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. [853] (Lists Silurus cornutus as a synonym though this name has not been applied in Australia)
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. [408] (also as M. elevatus and M. velitaris)
Robalo, J.I., Sousa-Santos, C., Cabral, H., Castilho, R. & Almada, V.C. 2009. Genetic evidence fails to discriminate between Macroramphosus gracilis Lowe 1839 and Macroramphosus scolopax Linnaeus 1758 in Portuguese waters. Marine Biology 156: 1733-1737
Stewart, A.L. 2015. Families Syngnathidae, Aulostomidae, Fistulariidae, Macroramphosidae. pp. 1050-1072 in Roberts, C.D., Stewart, A.L. & Struthers, C.D. The Fishes of New Zealand. Wellington : Te Papa Press Vol. 3 pp. 577-1152. [1070]
Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [37] (460 as M. elevatus and 462 as Orthichthys velitaris)
Common Name References
Fritzsche, R.A. & Thiesfeld, K.G. 1999. Families Aulostomidae, Fistulariidae, Macrorhamphosidae, Centriscidae. pp. 2277-2282 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. [2280] (FAO) (Longspine Snipefish)
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. [438] (Common Bellowsfish, Long Nosed Snipefish, Snipefish)
Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and Their Relatives. Chorleywood, UK : TMC Publishing 240 pp. [216] (Common Snipefish)
Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [95] (Common Bellows-fish)
Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Common Bellowsfish)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27-Jul-2017 | SYNGNATHIFORMES | 02-Jul-2017 | MODIFIED | Dr Doug Hoese Dr Matthew Lockett |
| 25-Jun-2015 | SYNGNATHIFORMES | 24-Feb-2015 | MODIFIED | Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM) |
| 27-Jul-2010 | MODIFIED |