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Chaenophryne longiceps Regan, 1925
A 13 cm long specimen of C.longiceps trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between 1635 m and 1749 m in international waters between Australia and New Zealand, May 2003 (CSIRO H6022-01). View larger image. Photo: M. McGrouther © NORFANZ.
C.longiceps has a rounded body with a distinct illicium projecting from the snout. It is classified in the family Oneirodidae and can be distinguished from other anglerfish families by a combination of characters that include the placement of the illicium, the smooth snout and chin that lacks a barbel and the dorsal and anal fins with 4 to 8 rays.
This species grows to 17 cm in length.
It occurs widely in bathypelagic waters of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
A second species of Chaenophryne, C.draco, is known from Australian waters. The two species can be separated by characteristics of the esca and by the number of pectoral fin rays. C.longiceps has 17-22 rays (rarely fewer than 18) versus 16-19 rays (rarely more than 18) in C.draco.
Further reading
- Bertelsen, E., & Pietsch, T.W. 1983. The Ceratioid Anglerfishes of Australia. Records of the Australian Museum. 35: 77-99.
- Pietsch, T. W. 1999. Oneirodidae. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 3. Batoid fishes, chimaeras and bony fishes part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae). FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-vi, 1398-2068.
- Stewart, A.L. & T.W. Pietsch. 1998. The ceratioid anglerfishes (Lophiiformes: Ceratioidei) of New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 28 (1): 1-37.
