Family Opisthoproctidae
Taxonomy: Family with six genera and about eleven species worldwide; three genera and three described species known from Australian waters.
Distribution, ecology and habitat: Tropical to temperate waters of all oceans; meso- and bathypelagic.
Characteristics:
Body shape variable, head small to moderate, eye moderate, tubular in most, directed anteriorly, dorsally or dorsolaterally; snout moderate, usually pointed, mouth small, premaxilla much reduced or absent, maxilla thin, fragile, teeth minute or absent; dorsal fin in posterior half of body, anal fin behind dorsal fin, pelvic fins lateral in some, often elongate, under or slightly before dorsal fin, dorsal adipose fin in some; scales large, cycloid, deciduous, lateral line runs straight along midline of body, not onto tail; ventral light organ containing luminous bacteria usually present.
Size: Reach 50 cm, although most much smaller.
Food and feeding: Reported to feed on siphonophores, jellyfishes and hydroids.
Reproduction and early life history: Oviparous, eggs small, pelagic; larvae pelagic, with gradual development to metamorphosed juveniles.
Fisheries: no commercial importance.
Australian species:
- Opisthoproctus grimaldii Zugmayer, 1911 Grimaldi's Barreleye CAAB 37099001
- Rhynchohyalus natalensis (Gilchrist & von Bonde, 1924) Glasshead Barreleye CAAB 37099002
- Winteria telescopa Brauer, 1901 Binocular Fish CAAB 37099003
References:
Ahlstrom, E.H., H.G. Moser & D.M. Cohen. 1984. Argentinoidei: Development and relationships. Pp. 155-168, In H.G. Moser, W.J. Richards, D.M. Cohen, M.P. Fahay, A.W. Kendall, Jr. & S.L Richardson (eds). Ontogeny and systematics of fishes. Spec. Publ. 1, Am. Soc. Ichthyol. Herpetol. Allen Press, Lawrence, KS.
Moser, H.G. 1996. Opisthoproctidae: Spookfishes. Pp. 216-223, In H.G. Moser (ed.). The early stages of fishes in the California Current region. CalCOFI Atlas 33. Allen Press, Lawrence, KS, 1505 pp.
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.