Jump to content

Macrouridae: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
AvicBot (talk | contribs)
m Robot: Fixing double redirect to Grenadiers (fish)
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Taxobox
#REDIRECT [[Grenadiers (fish)]]
| name = Macrouridae
| image = CoryphaenoidesLeptolepis.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Coryphaenoides leptolepis''
| regnum = [[Animalia]]
| phylum = [[Chordata]]
| classis = [[Actinopterygii]]
| ordo = [[Gadiformes]]
| familia = '''Macrouridae'''
| familia_authority = [[Charles Lucien Bonaparte|Bonaparte]], 1831
| subdivision_ranks = Genera<ref name=Iwamoto2015/>
| subdivision =
* ''[[Albatrossia]]'' <small>Jordan & Gilbert, 1898</small>
* ''[[Asthenomacrurus]]'' <small>Sazonov & Shcherbachev, 1982</small>
* ''[[Cetonurichthys]]'' <small>Sazonov & Shcherbachev, 1982</small>
* ''[[Cetonurus]]'' <small>Günther, 1887</small>
* ''[[Coelorinchus]]'' <small>Giorna, 1809</small>
* ''[[Coryphaenoides]]'' <small>Gunnerus, 1765</small>
* ''[[Cynomacrurus]]'' <small>Dollo, 1909</small>
* ''[[Echinomacrurus]]'' <small>Roule, 1916</small>
* ''[[Haplomacrourus]]'' <small>Trunov, 1980</small>
* ''[[Hymenocephalus (fish)|Hymenocephalus]]'' <small>Giglioli, 1884</small>
* ''[[Hymenogadus]]'' <small>Gilbert & Hubbs, 1920</small>
* ''[[Kumba (genus)|Kumba]]'' <small>Marshall, 1973</small>
* ''[[Kuronezumia]]'' <small>Iwamoto, 1974</small>
* ''[[Lepidorhynchus]]'' <small>Richardson, 1846</small>
* ''[[Lucigadus]]'' <small>Gilbert & Hubbs, 1920</small>
* ''[[Macrosmia]]'' <small>Merrett, Sazonov & Shcherbachev, 1983</small>
* ''[[Macrourus]]'' <small>Bloch, 1786</small>
* ''[[Malacocephalus]]'' <small>Günther, 1862</small>
* ''[[Mataeocephalus]]'' <small>Berg, 1898</small>
* ''[[Mesobius]]'' <small>Hubbs & Iwamoto, 1977</small>
* ''[[Nezumia]]'' <small>Jordan, 1904</small>
* ''[[Odontomacrurus]]'' <small>Norman, 1939</small>
* ''[[Paracetonurus]]'' <small>Marshall, 1973</small>
* ''[[Pseudocetonurus]]'' <small>Sazonov & Shcherbachev, 1982</small>
* ''[[Pseudonezumia]]'' <small>Okamura, 1970</small>
* ''[[Sphagemacrurus]]'' <small>Fowler, 1925</small>
* ''[[Spicomacrurus]]'' <small>Okamura, 1970</small>
* ''[[Trachonurus]]'' <small>Günther, 1887</small>
* ''[[Ventrifossa]]'' <small>Gilbert & Hubbs, 1920</small>
}}

'''Macrouridae''' is a large and diverse [[family (biology)|family]]. They range in length from about {{convert|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} in ''Hymenogadus gracilis'' to {{convert|1.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} in ''Albatrossia pectoralis''. An important commercial fishery exists for the larger species, such as ''Coryphaenoides rupestris''. The family as a whole may represent up to 15% of the deep-sea fish population.<ref name=Iwamoto2015>Iwamoto, T., Nakayama, N., Shao, K.-T. & Ho, H.-C. (2015): Synopsis of the Grenadier Fishes (Gadiformes; Teleostei) of Taiwan. ''Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, (Series 4), 62 (3): 31-126.''</ref>

Typified by large heads with large mouths and eyes, grenadiers have slender bodies that taper greatly to very thin [[caudal peduncle]]s or tails (excluding one species with no tail fin): this [[rat]]-like tail explains the common name 'rattail' and the family name Macrouridae, from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''makros'' meaning "great" and ''oura'' meaning "tail". The first [[dorsal fin]] is small, high, and pointed (and may be spinous); the second dorsal fin runs along the rest of the back and merges with the tail and extensive [[anal fin]]. The scales are small.

As with many deep-living fish, the [[lateral line]] system in grenadiers is well-developed; it is further aided by numerous [[chemoreceptor]]s located on the head and lips, and chemosensory [[barbel (anatomy)|barbel]]s underneath the chin. [[Benthic]] species have [[gas bladder]]s with unique muscles attached to them. The animals are thought to use these muscles to "strum" their gas bladders and produce sound, possibly playing a role in courtship and mate location. Light-producing organs, [[photophore]]s, are present in some species; they are located in the middle of the abdomen, just before the anus and underneath the skin.

Living at depths from {{convert|200|to|6000|m|ft|abbr=on}}, grenadiers are the most common benthic fish of the deep (however, two genera are known to prefer the midwater). They may be solitary or may form large schools, as with the roundnose grenadiers. The benthic species are attracted to structural oases, such as [[hydrothermal vent]]s, [[cold seep]]s, and [[shipwreck]]s. They are thought to be generalists, feeding on smaller fish, pelagic [[crustacea]]ns such as [[shrimp]], [[amphipod]]s, [[cumacea]]ns and less often [[cephalopod]]s and [[lanternfish]]. As well as being important apex predators in the benthic habitat, some species are also notable as scavengers.

As few rattail [[larva]]e have been recovered, little is known of their life histories. They are known to produce a large number (over 100,000) of tiny ({{convert|1|-|2|mm|in|disp=or}} in diameter) eggs made buoyant by [[lipid]] droplets. The eggs are presumed to float up to the [[thermocline]] (the interface between warmer surface waters and cold, deeper waters) where they develop. The juveniles remain in shallower waters, gradually migrating to greater depths with age.

Spawning may or may not be tied to the seasons, depending on the species. At least one species, ''[[Coryphaenoides armatus]]'', is thought to be [[semelparous]]; that is, the adults die after spawning. Nonsemelparous species may live to 56 years or more. The Macrouridae in general are thought to have low resilience; commercially exploited species may be overfished and this could soon lead to a collapse of their fisheries.

== See also ==
* [[List of fish common names]]
* [[List of fish families]]

==References==
{{commonscat}}
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Fish]]


{{Gadiformes-stub}}

Revision as of 14:59, 5 September 2015

Macrouridae
Coryphaenoides leptolepis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Macrouridae

Bonaparte, 1831
Genera[1]

Macrouridae is a large and diverse family. They range in length from about 10 cm (3.9 in) in Hymenogadus gracilis to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in Albatrossia pectoralis. An important commercial fishery exists for the larger species, such as Coryphaenoides rupestris. The family as a whole may represent up to 15% of the deep-sea fish population.[1]

Typified by large heads with large mouths and eyes, grenadiers have slender bodies that taper greatly to very thin caudal peduncles or tails (excluding one species with no tail fin): this rat-like tail explains the common name 'rattail' and the family name Macrouridae, from the Greek makros meaning "great" and oura meaning "tail". The first dorsal fin is small, high, and pointed (and may be spinous); the second dorsal fin runs along the rest of the back and merges with the tail and extensive anal fin. The scales are small.

As with many deep-living fish, the lateral line system in grenadiers is well-developed; it is further aided by numerous chemoreceptors located on the head and lips, and chemosensory barbels underneath the chin. Benthic species have gas bladders with unique muscles attached to them. The animals are thought to use these muscles to "strum" their gas bladders and produce sound, possibly playing a role in courtship and mate location. Light-producing organs, photophores, are present in some species; they are located in the middle of the abdomen, just before the anus and underneath the skin.

Living at depths from 200 to 6,000 m (660 to 19,690 ft), grenadiers are the most common benthic fish of the deep (however, two genera are known to prefer the midwater). They may be solitary or may form large schools, as with the roundnose grenadiers. The benthic species are attracted to structural oases, such as hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, and shipwrecks. They are thought to be generalists, feeding on smaller fish, pelagic crustaceans such as shrimp, amphipods, cumaceans and less often cephalopods and lanternfish. As well as being important apex predators in the benthic habitat, some species are also notable as scavengers.

As few rattail larvae have been recovered, little is known of their life histories. They are known to produce a large number (over 100,000) of tiny (1–2 millimetres or 0.039–0.079 inches in diameter) eggs made buoyant by lipid droplets. The eggs are presumed to float up to the thermocline (the interface between warmer surface waters and cold, deeper waters) where they develop. The juveniles remain in shallower waters, gradually migrating to greater depths with age.

Spawning may or may not be tied to the seasons, depending on the species. At least one species, Coryphaenoides armatus, is thought to be semelparous; that is, the adults die after spawning. Nonsemelparous species may live to 56 years or more. The Macrouridae in general are thought to have low resilience; commercially exploited species may be overfished and this could soon lead to a collapse of their fisheries.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Iwamoto, T., Nakayama, N., Shao, K.-T. & Ho, H.-C. (2015): Synopsis of the Grenadier Fishes (Gadiformes; Teleostei) of Taiwan. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, (Series 4), 62 (3): 31-126.