Introduction

This order contains five families of small to medium-sized, soft-bodied fishes (Nielsen et al. 1999). Most are deepsea fishes found below 200 m, but some species are common in shallow water around corals reefs. Patterson & Rosen (1989) questioned the monophyly of the order. Nelson (1994) included the Parabrotulidae here, but Nielsen (1999) excluded the family from the order. Nelson (2006), however, has retained Parabrotulidae in this order until a more suitable placement is found.

General References

Gordon, D.J., Markle, D.F. & Olney, J.E. 1984. Order Ophidiiformes. pp. 308-319 in Moser, H.G. et al. (eds). Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Publication 1: 1-760

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.

Nielsen, J.G., Cohen, D.M., Markle, D.F. & Robins, C.R. 1999. Ophidiiform Fishes of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform species known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125 Vol. 18. 178 pp.

Nielsen. J.G. 1999. Families Carapidae, Ophidiidae, Bythitidae, Aphionidae. pp. 1978-1985 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.

Patterson, C. & Rosen, D.E. 1989. The Paracanthopterygii revisited: order and disorder. pp. 5-36 in Cohen, D.M. (ed.). Papers on the systematics of gadiform fishes. Science Series. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 32: 1-262

History of changes

• DINEMATICHTHYIDAE Cohen, D.M. & Nielsen, J.G. 1978. Guide to the identification of genera of the fish order Ophidiiformes with a tentative classification of the order. National Marine Fisheries Service (U.S.). Technical Report 417: 1-72 figs 1-103.

History of changes

• Alionematichthys Møller, P. R. & Schwarzhans, W. 2008. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-Pacific. Part IV. Dinematichthys and two new genera with descriptions of nine new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 24: 87-146 [90].

  Type species:

   Dinematichthys riukiuensis Aoyagi, 1954 by original designation.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Tropical, east-Indo-west-cental Pacific.

IMCRA

Lord Howe Province (14), Northeast Province (18), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Other Regions

Coral Sea Islands Territory, Territory of Ashmore & Cartier Islands

History of changes

• Alionematichthys crassiceps Møller, P. R. & Schwarzhans, W. 2008. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-Pacific. Part IV. Dinematichthys and two new genera with descriptions of nine new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 24: 87-146 [95].

  Type data:

   Holotype BPBM 9310 (Depth 0-4 meters), Caroline Islands, Southfield beach, Micronesia [8°00'N, 147°00'E].

Miscellaneous Literature Names

• Alionematichthys sp. 2. —
  Møller, P. R. & Schwarzhans, W. 2008. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-Pacific. Part IV. Dinematichthys and two new genera with descriptions of nine new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 24: 87-146 [127]

Distribution

States

Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Off Karratha, WA (20°28’S, 116°32’E) and off Mermaid Island, WA (116°26’S, 123°21’E); tropical, oceanic islands of west-central Pacific.

IMCRA

Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27)

General References

Møller, P. R. & Schwarzhans, W. 2008. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-Pacific. Part IV. Dinematichthys and two new genera with descriptions of nine new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 24: 87-146 [95]

Schwarzhans, W. & Møller, P.R. 2011. New Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) from the Indo-west Pacific, with the description of a new genus and five new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 27: 161-177 [163]

Common Name References

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp. [130] (Bighead Viviparous Brotula)

History of changes

• Dinematichthys piger Alcock, A.W. 1890. On some undescribed shorefishes from the Bay of Bengal. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 6 6: 425-443 figs 1-3 [432].

  Type data:

   Holotype ZSI F12939, Great Coco Island, Andaman Islands, 15-35 fathoms.

Generic Combinations

• Alionematichthys piger (Alcock, 1890). —
  Møller, P. R. & Schwarzhans, W. 2008. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-Pacific. Part IV. Dinematichthys and two new genera with descriptions of nine new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 24: 87-146 [102]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Near Scott Reef and Kimberley Region, WA and east of Cape York, QLD and Diamond Islets, Coral Sea and Middleton Reef and Elizabeth Reef, NSW; tropical, east-Indo-west -central Pacific.

IMCRA

Lord Howe Province (14), Northeast Province (18), Timor Province (2), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Other Regions

Coral Sea Islands Territory

Ecological Descriptors

Coral reef.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth range: 1-13 m.

General References

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 [367]

Møller, P. R. & Schwarzhans, W. 2008. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-Pacific. Part IV. Dinematichthys and two new genera with descriptions of nine new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 24: 87-146 [102]

Nielsen, J.G., Cohen, D.M., Markle, D.F. & Robins, C.R. 1999. Ophidiiform Fishes of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform species known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125 Vol. 18. 178 pp. [126] (status uncertain, in Brotulina)

Common Name References

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp. [131] (Whiskered Viviparous Brotula)

History of changes

• Dinematichthys riukiuensis Aoyagi, H. 1954. Studies on the coral fishes of the Riu-Kiu Islands. VIII. Gobiesocidae, Limnichthidae, Callionymidae, Parapercidae, Brotulidae, Bothidae and Soleidae. Zoological Magazine, Tokyo 63(6): 235-238 [237].

  Type data:

   Lectotype YCM 30023, Ishigaki Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
  Paralectotype(s) YCM 30001; YCM 30025 3 specimens.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Hayashi, M. 1995. Catalogue of fishes of Yokosuka City Museum (III) — Dr. Aoyagi (Ikeda)'s fish collection. Miscellaneous Report, Yokosuka City Museum 20: 1-70 [11].
• Dinematichthys megasoma Machida, Y. 1994. Descriptions of three new and one resurrected species of bythitid genus Dinematichthys (Ophidiiformes). Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 40(4): 451-464 [459, fig. 6].

  Type data:

   Holotype NTM S.11253-019-1, Table Head, Cobowg Peninsula, NT, 2-3 m.
  Paratype(s) NTM S.10417-023-1; NTM S.11253-019-2 3 specimens.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Møller, P. R. & Schwarzhans, W. 2008. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-Pacific. Part IV. Dinematichthys and two new genera with descriptions of nine new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 24: 87-146 [113]

Generic Combinations

• Alionematichthys riukiuensis (Aoyagi, 1954). —
  Møller, P. R. & Schwarzhans, W. 2008. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-Pacific. Part IV. Dinematichthys and two new genera with descriptions of nine new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 24: 87-146 [113] (changed combination as type of genus Alionematichthys)

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Kimberley Region, WA, Hibernia Reef to Sir Graham Moore Islands, WA, Darwin to Cobourg Peninsula, NT and Cape York and Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea to Shoalwater Bay. (22°14'47"S), QLD; tropical, east-Indo-west Pacific.

IMCRA

Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Other Regions

Territory of Ashmore & Cartier Islands

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic, coral reef.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth range: 0-3 m.

General References

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 [367]

Hoese, D.F. & Gates, J.E. 2006. Bythitidae. pp. 567-574 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. [571-572] (as Dinematichthys megasoma & D. riukiuensis)

Machida, Y. 1994. Descriptions of three new and one resurrected species of bythitid genus Dinematichthys (Ophidiiformes). Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 40(4): 451-464 [461] (as Dinematichthys riukiuensis and as Dinematichthys megasoma)

Møller, P.R., Schwarzhans, W. & Nielsen, J.G. 2004. Review of the American Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae). Part I. Dinematichthys, Gunterichthys, Typhliasina and two new genera. Aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology 8(4): 141-192 [149] (as Dinematichthys megasoma & D. riukiuensis)

Møller, P. R. & Schwarzhans, W. 2008. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-Pacific. Part IV. Dinematichthys and two new genera with descriptions of nine new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 24: 87-146 [113]

Nakabo, T. (ed.) 2002. Fishes of Japan with pictorial keys to the species. English edition. Tokyo : Toikai University Press pp. 867-1749. [450] (as Dinematichthys riukiuensis)

Nielsen, J.G., Cohen, D.M., Markle, D.F. & Robins, C.R. 1999. Ophidiiform Fishes of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform species known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125 Vol. 18. 178 pp. [130] (as Dinematichthys megasoma & D. riukiuensis)

Nielsen. J.G. 1999. Families Carapidae, Ophidiidae, Bythitidae, Aphionidae. pp. 1978-1985 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. [1984] (as Dinematichthys megasoma)

Common Name References

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp. [131] (Ryukyu Viviparous Brotula)

Fishbase 2004. Fishbase at. http://www.fishbase.org/Summary. (26 September 2011) (Robust Cusk)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Bigeye Cusk)

History of changes

• Beaglichthys Machida, Y. 1993. Two new genera and species of the subfamily Brosmophycinae (Bythitidae, Ophidiiformes) from northern Australia. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 39(4): 281-286 [284].

  Type species:

   Beaglichthys macrophthalmus Machida, 1993 by original designation.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Off Onslow, WA (21°S, 115°E) to off Groote Eylandt, NT (14°S, 136°E); tropical.

IMCRA

Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27)

History of changes

• Beaglichthys bleekeri Schwarzhans, W. & Møller, P.R. 2007. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-west Pacific. Part III. Beaglichthys, Brosmolus, Monothrix and eight new genera with description of 20 new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 23: 29-110 [36, figs. 2-3].

  Type data:

   Holotype SMNS 10671, Java, Indonesia.
  Paratype(s) USNM 374173; WAM P.31250-046; WAM P.31832-003.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Off Onslow, WA (20°37'S, 116°33'E) to off Cobourg Peninsula, NT (12°05'S, 131°01'E); tropical, west Pacific (Java)

IMCRA

Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27)

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth range: 0-1 m.

Common Name References

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp. [132] (Bleeker's Viviparous Brotula)

History of changes

• Beaglichthys larsonae Schwarzhans, W. & Møller, P.R. 2007. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-west Pacific. Part III. Beaglichthys, Brosmolus, Monothrix and eight new genera with description of 20 new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 23: 29-110 [41, figs. 4-5].

  Type data:

   Holotype USNM 327954, Darwin Harbour, NT [12°29’S, 130°53’E].
  Paratype(s) AM I.24676-050 3 specimens; SAIAB 35938; USNM 374172; ZMUC P771618.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory

Extra Distribution Information

Darwin Harbour, NT (12°29'S, 130°53'EE) and Groote Eylandt (14°S, 136°E), NT; tropical.

Australian Endemic.

IMCRA

Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26)

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth range: 0-1 m.

History of changes

• Beaglichthys macrophthalmus Machida, Y. 1993. Two new genera and species of the subfamily Brosmophycinae (Bythitidae, Ophidiiformes) from northern Australia. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 39(4): 281-286 [285, fig. 4].

  Type data:

   Holotype NTM S.10395-001, Shoal Bay, NT.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Off Bonaparte Archipelago, WA (13°34'S, 126°48'E) to off Cobourg Peninsula, NT (11°S, 132°E); tropical, New Guinea

IMCRA

Northwest Shelf Transition (26)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic, inshore.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth range: 0-40 m.

General References

Hoese, D.F. & Gates, J.E. 2006. Bythitidae. pp. 567-574 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. [568]

Nielsen, J.G., Cohen, D.M., Markle, D.F. & Robins, C.R. 1999. Ophidiiform Fishes of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform species known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125 Vol. 18. 178 pp. [117]

Nielsen. J.G. 1999. Families Carapidae, Ophidiidae, Bythitidae, Aphionidae. pp. 1978-1985 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. [1984]

Schwarzhans, W. & Møller, P.R. 2007. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-west Pacific. Part III. Beaglichthys, Brosmolus, Monothrix and eight new genera with description of 20 new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 23: 29-110 [44]

Common Name References

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp. [132] (Bigeye Viviparous Brotula)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Beagle Cusk)

History of changes