Family OPISTHOPROCTIDAE

Opisthoproctidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

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Introduction

The family Opisthoproctidae comprises eight genera and 19 described species from all oceans (Eschmeyer & Fong 2012; Eschmeyer 2014). Nine species have been described since the year 2000. Four genera and four described species have been collected in Australian waters. The opisthoproctids were revised by Cohen (1964) and summarised by Ahlstrom et al. (1984). Paxton & Cohen (1999) listed species found in the western-central Pacific, and Parin et al. (2009) revised three genera and described a new genus.

Barreleyes are poorly known meso- and bathypelagic fishes. Most species have strongly telescopic eyes directed either forward or upward and some have light organs with luminescent bacteria, and siphonophores have been collected from the stomach of one species. Maximum length is about 30 cm.

General References

Ahlstrom, E.H., Moser, H.G. & Cohen, D.M. 1984. Argentinoidei: development and relationships. pp. 155-169 figs 82-88 in Moser, H.G. et al. (eds). Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Special Publication 1: 1-760

Cohen, D.M. 1964. Suborder Argentinoidea. In, Olsen, Y.H. (ed.) Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir. Sears Foundation of Marine Research 1(4): 1-70 figs 1-20

Eschmeyer, W.N. 2014. Catalog of Fishes. Online version updated 19 May 2014. http://research.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp

Eschmeyer, W.N. & Fong, J.D. 2012. Species of Fishes by family/subfamily. Catalog of Fishes. Online version updated 15 March 2012. http://research.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/SpeciesByFamily.asp

Parin, N.V., Belyanina, T.N. & Evseenko, S.A. 2009. Materials to the revision of the genus Dolichopteryx and closely related taxa (Ioichthys, Bathylychnops) with the separation of a new genusDolichopteroides and description of three new species (Fam. Opisthoproctidae). Journal of Ichthyology 49(10): 839-851

Paxton, J.R. & Cohen, D.M. 1999. Families Argentinidae, Microstomatidae, Bathylagidae, Opisthoproctidae. pp. 1884-1887 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.

Common Name References

Paxton, J.R. & Cohen, D.M. 1999. Families Argentinidae, Microstomatidae, Bathylagidae, Opisthoproctidae. pp. 1884-1887 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. [1887] (FAO) (Barreleyes)

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