Family MERLUCCIIDAE

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Introduction

The Merlucciidae comprise about 21 species in five genera (Eschmeyer & Fong, 2015). In Australia, two described species in two genera have been recorded. An unidentified species of Lyconus has been collected off western Tasmania in 700–1170 m.

Hakes are benthic on continental slopes down to 2500 m, although juveniles are found in shallower waters. The family occurs in temperate waters of both hemispheres. Lanternfishes are the primary food of at least one species. Hakes have two dorsal fins with a distinct or confluent caudal fin and a terminal mouth. Unlike many other cods and relatives in the order Gadiformes, they lack a chin barbel. Hakes are commercially important, with Macruronus novaezelandiae (Blue Grenadier) the most important commercial species in Tasmania. They attain 1.1 m in length.

Although Nelson (1994) placed Macruronus in a separate family, Paxton et al. (1989) and Paxton et al. (2006) retained it in the Merlucciidae following the classification of Inada (1990). More recently, Lloris et al. (2005) and Nelson (2006) recognised the subfamilies Macruroninae and Merluciinae within the Merlucciidae. Endo (2002) separated the family as recognised here into 3 separate famlies (Merlucciidae, Macruronidae and Steindachneriidae).

Inada (1981) revised the species of Merluccius. Marshall (1996) discussed relationships within the family. Howes (1991) treated Macruronus and discussed relationships of the family. Ayling & Cox (1982) briefly described and figured two of the three species taken from Australian waters. Lloris et al. 2005 reviewed the family and provided keys to species. Matallanas & Lloris (2006) described Merluccius tasmanica from New Zealand and redescribed M. australis, however, Deli Antoni et al. (2015) found M. tasmanica to be a junior synonym of M. australis based on molecular and morphological characters. Bruce (1998) described the larval stages of M. novaezelandiae.

 

General References

Ayling, T. & Cox, G.J. 1982. Collins Guide to the Seafishes of New Zealand. Auckland : Collins 343 pp. 48 pls 475 figs.

Bruce, B.D. 1998. Macruronidae — hakes. pp. 88-91 in Neira, F.J., Miskiewicz, A.G. & Trnski, T. Larvae of temperate Australian fishes: laboratory guide for larval fish identification. Nedlands, Western Australia : University of Western Australia press 474 pp.

Endo, H. 2002. Phylogeny of the order Gadiformes (Teleostei: Paracanthopterygii). Memoirs of the Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University 49(2): 75-149

Eschmeyer, W.N. & Fong, J.D. 7 January 2015. Species by family/subfamily in the Catalog of Fishes. http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/SpeciesByFamily.asp

Günther, A. 1887. Report on the deep-sea fishes collected by H.M.S Challenger during the years 1873–1876. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger 1873–1876, Zoology 22(57): 1-268 figs 1-7 pls 1-66

Howes, G.J. 1991. Anatomy, phylogeny and taxonomy of the gadoid fish genus Macruronus Günther, 1873, with a revised hypothesis of gadoid phylogeny. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 57(1): 77-110

Inada, T. 1981. Studies on the merlucciid fishes. Bulletin of the Far Seas Fisheries Research Laboratory 18: 1-172 figs 1-66

Inada, T. 1990. Family Merluciidae. pp. 319-345 in Cohen, D.M., Inada, T., Iwamoto, T. & Scialabba, N. FAO Species Catalogue. Gadiform fishes of the world (order Gadiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cods, hakes, grenadiers and other gadiform fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125. Rome : FAO Vol. 10 442 pp.

Lloris, D., J. Matallanas, J. & Oliver, P. 2005. Hakes of the world (Family Merlucciidae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of hake species known to date. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. Rome, FAO. Vol. No. 2. 57 p.

Marshall, N.B. 1966. The relationships of the anacanthine fishes, Macruronus, Lyconus and Steindachneria. Copeia 1966(2): 275-280 figs 1-3

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.

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

Paxton, J.R., Gates, J.E., Bray, D.J. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Merlucciidae. pp. 625-627 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.

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. [308-309]

Waite, E.R. 1911. Scientific results of the New Zealand government trawling expedition 1907. Pisces. Part 2. Records of the Canterbury Museum 1(3): 157-272 figs 1-3 pls 24-57 [pl. 30]

 

Common Name References

Inada, T. 1990. Family Merluciidae. pp. 319-345 in Cohen, D.M., Inada, T., Iwamoto, T. & Scialabba, N. FAO Species Catalogue. Gadiform fishes of the world (order Gadiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cods, hakes, grenadiers and other gadiform fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125. Rome : FAO Vol. 10 442 pp. [319] (FAO) (Hakes)

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp. [236] (Merluccid Hakes)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
26-Nov-2015	GADIFORMES	13-Nov-2015	MODIFIED	Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM)
		12-Feb-2010	(import)