Family Argentinidae
Taxonomy: Family with 2 genera and about 23 species; both genera and 3 described species known from Australian waters, other species may occur here; family in need of revision.
Distribution, ecology and habitat: Worldwide in tropical to temperate and northern boreal latitudes, rare in tropical Pacific; benthopelagic on outer shelf and upper slope, rarely to 1400 m.
Characteristics:
Small to moderate-sized elongate fishes, head moderate in size, snout pointed, eye moderate to large, not tubular, mouth small, premaxilla present, maxilla not reaching anterior edge of orbit; jaw teeth small, teeth present on vomer and palatines, present or absent on tongue; single short-based dorsal fin before middle of body, pectoral fins small, close to ventral edge of body, small dorsal adipose fin often present near tail above short-based anal fin; caudal fin large, forked; scales cycloid or spinose, deciduous, radii absent; lateral line near lateral midline of side, not extending onto tail; no light organs or luminous tissue; body often silvery with brilliant silver or dark longitudinal stripe.
Size: Reach 60 cm.
Food and feeding: Benthic carnivores feeding on polychaete worms, crustaceans, echinoderms, gastropods and fishes; also known to feed on salps.
Reproduction and early life history: Oviparous, females lay small, round pelagic eggs, 1.3-3.5mm diameter. Larvae have a protracted development from the slender pelagic stage to the metamorphosed juvenile and are characterised in having the dorsal and anal fins develop in the median finfold rather than along the body wall and a deflected terminal gut hanging free from the body; pelagic juveniles often retain larval pigmentation.
Fisheries: Rarely of commercial importance; occasionally caught by commercial trawlers, but usually slip through coarse mesh of deepwater commercial nets; important food item of many commercial species.
Australian species:
- Argentina australiae Cohen, 1958 Silverside CAAB 37097001
- Glossanodon australis Kobyliansky, 1998 Southern Herring Smelt CAAB 37097003
- Glossanodon pseudolineatus Kobyliansky, 1998 Saddled Herring Smelt CAAB 37097005
References:
Ahlstrom, E.H., H.G. Moser & D.M. Cohen. 1984. Argentinoidei: development and relationships. In Moser H.G., W.J. Richards, D.M. Cohen, M.P. Fahay, A.W. Kendall, Jr. & S.L. Richardson (eds). Ontogeny and systematics of fishes. Am. Soc. Ichthyol. Herpetol. Spec. Publ. No. 1: 155-169.
Cohen, D.M. & S.P. Atsaides. 1969. Additions to a revision of Argentinine fishes. U. S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Fish. Bull. 68(1): 13-36.
Paxton, J.R. & D.M. Cohen. 1999. Families Argentinidae, Microstomatidae, Bathylagidae, and Opisthoproctidae. In Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem. Species identification guide for fisheries purposes. The living marine resources of the western central Pacific. Batoid fishes, chimeras and bony fishes. Part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae). FAO, Rome.