Family Euclichthyidae

Euclichthyidae

Taxonomy: Single genus, Euclichthys, with a single described species, and several undescribed species.

Distribution, ecology and habitat: Temperate, tropical Southwest Pacific - restricted to Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia; benthopelagic on continental slope, in 200-1000 m (usually 250-800 m).

Characteristics:
Body long, tapering; head prominent, mouth large, eye large, no chin barbel; jaw teeth tiny, in narrow band in both jaws; two dorsal fins, first short-based, elevated, second long-based following dorsal profile of body, reaching but separate from small externally asymmetrical caudal fin; anal fin in two unequal parts, a short, high anterior lobe connected to a long-based, low portion with rays increasing in height posteriorly; pelvic fins jugular with 4 long separate filamentous rays, longest reaching well beyond anal-fin origin. Scales small, cycloid, not on unpaired fins, lateral line smoothly curved.

Size: To 35 cm.

Food and feeding: unknown.

Reproduction and early life history: Unknown, presumably oviparouswith pelagic eggs and larvae.

Fisheries: No commercial catch and not abundant, although taken as by-catch in commercial trawls.

Remarks: with ventral light organ containing luminescent bacteria.

Australian species:

References:

Cohen, D.M. 1984. Gadiformes: overview, pp. 259-265 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.

Cohen, D.M. 1990. Families Bregamcerotidae, Euclichthyidae, Gadidae, pp. 16-89 In Cohen, D.M., Inada, T., Iwamoto, T. & N. Scialabba. 1990. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 10. Gadiform fishes of the world (order Gadiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cods, hakes, grenadiers and other gadiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. No. 125. Rome : FAO Vol. 10, 442 pp.

Fahay, M.P. & D.F. Markle, 1984. Gadiformes: Development and relationships, pp. 265-283 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. Allen Press Inc. Lawrence, USA.