Family SERRIVOMERIDAE

Serrivomeridae

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Introduction

Serrivomerids are represented worldwide by two genera and about ten species (Tighe 1989). In Australia, two species in one genus have been recorded.

Nelson et al. (2016) placed the family in the Anguilloidei, rather than the Congroidei.

Sawtooth eels are meso- and bathypelagic in all oceans. Serrivomerids are characterised by elongate jaws (but not as produced as in the Nemichthyidae), strong vomerine teeth, dorsal fin origin over or behind the anal fin and no obvious lateral line pores. Sexual dimorphism is apparent, males being smaller than females. Crustaceans form the main component of their diet. Serrivomerids may exceed 60 cm in length.

The sawtooth eels have not been reviewed comprehensively and species from the Southern Ocean are in need of revision. Studies of the genus Serrivomer have been made by Beebe & Crane (1936) and Bauchot-Boutin (1953, 1959).

General References

Bauchot-Boutin, M.L. 1953. Révision synoptique du genre Serrivomer (Anguilliformes). Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris [published 1907-1971] 25(4): 365-367 4 figs

Bauchot-Boutin, M.-L. 1959. Etude des larves leptocéphales du groupe Leptocephalus lanceolatus Strömman et identification à la famille des Serrivomeridae. Dana Reports 48: 1-148 figs 1-105 pls 1-2

Beebe, W. & Crane, J. 1936. Deep-sea fishes of the Bermuda Oceanographic expeditions. No 3. Family Serrivomeridae. Part I. Genus Serrivomer. Zoologica (New York) 20(3): 53-102 figs 23-42

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

Paxton, J.R., Gates, J.E. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Serrivomeridae. pp. 301-302 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.

Smith, D.G. 2008. Family Serrivomeridae. p. 181 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Tighe, K.A. 1989. Serrivomeridae. pp. 613-627 in Böhlke, E.B. (ed.). Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes. New Haven : The Sears Foundation of Marine Research, Yale University Pt 9 Vol. 1 655 pp.

Common Name References

Smith, D.G. 1999. Families Colocongridae, Derichthyidae, Muraenesocidae, Nemichtyhyidae, Congridae, Nettastomatidae, Serrivomeridae, Cyematidae, Saccopharyngidae, Eurypharyngidae, Monognathidae. pp. 1670-1697 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. [1691] (FAO) (Sawtooth Eels)

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