Family REGALECIDAE

Regalecidae

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Introduction

Olney (1999) recognised two monotypic genera in the family. Currently, two genera and three species are recognised for the Regalecidae (Roberts 2012, Nelson et al 2016); all species occur in Australian waters. However, Tyson Roberts of Bangkok in his study of the genus Regalecus has found two Pacific and two Atlantic species, but more research is needed to determine if each inter-ocean pair is conspecific. We provisionally assume that the New Zealand and Australian species of Agrostichthys are conspecific.

Oarfishes are compressed and extremely long, with the dorsal fin extending the length of the body. The long rays anteriorly form a crest and the pelvic fins are rod or spike-like. These fishes attain a maximum length of more than 8 m and are probably responsible for many reported sea serpent sightings.

The oarfishes, streamerfishes and king of herrings have not been revised recently. Walters & Fitch (1960) reviewed the two genera and Trunov (1982) described southern ocean specimens. Olney (1984) reviewed relationships and development of the family, and Oelschläger (1978) described the morphology of Agrostichthys.

General References

Nelson, J.S., Grande, T.C. & Wilson, M.V.H. 2016. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons 5, 752 pp.

Oelschläger, H.A. 1978. Zur Morphologie und Biomechanik von Agrostichthys Phillips im Vergleich mit anderen Allotriognathi (Pisces, Teleostei). Zoologische Jahrbucher. Abteilung für Anatomie 100: 118-153 figs 1-16

Olney, J.E. 1984. Lampridiformes: development and relationships. pp. 368-379 figs 193-201 in Moser, H.G. et al. (eds). Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Publication 1: 1-760

Olney, J.E. 1999. Families Veliferidae, Lamprididae, Stylephoridae, Lophotidae, Radiicephalidae, Trachipteridae, Regalecidae. pp. 1966-1975 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.

Roberts, T.R. 2012. Systematics, biology, and distribution of the species of the oceanic oarfish genus Regalecus (Teleostei, Lampridiformes, Regalecidae). Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris (N.S.) [1993-2016] A Zoologie 202: 1-268

Trunov, I.A. 1982. Species of the family Regalecidae (Lampridiformes) from the Southeastern Atlantic Ocean. Voprosy Ikhtiologii 22(1): 1-6 figs 1-2 [in Russian, English transl. J. Ichthyol. 22(1): 1–6]

Walters, V. & Fitch, J.E. 1960. The families and genera of the lampridiform (Allotriognath) suborder Trachipteroidei. California Fisheries and Game 46(4): 441-451

Common Name References

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. [433] (Oarfish)

Nelson, J.S. 1984. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 523 pp. figs. [229] (Oarfishes)

Palmer, G. 1986. Regalecidae. pp. 727-728 in Whitehead, P.J.P., Bauchot, M.-L., Hureau, J.-C. & Tortonese, E. (eds). Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Paris : UNESCO Vol. 2 pp. 517-1007. [727] (King Of Herrings, Oar Fish)

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. [401] (Streamerfishes)

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