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Crested Bandfish
Lophotus lacepede Giorna, 1809
A Crested Bandfish purchased from Nicholas Seafood by B. Yau, September 2005 (AMS I.43718-001). The fish was caught by M. Cameron on FV Tasman Explorer at a depth of 1000 m, off Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. The two wounds were probably caused by a Cookie-cutter Shark. Photo: M. McGrouther © Australian Museum. View larger image.
All images below: A Crested Bandfish photographed by Australian Museum photographer H. Hughes in during the 1980s. View larger image.
The Crested Bandfish can be recognised by its long ribbon-like body and large eyes. It has a long-based, red dorsal fin with elongate leading rays and a short anal fin positioned just anterior to the caudal fin.
It grows to around 2 m in length.
Little is known of the biology of the species. It has an internal ink sac that stores a dark, inky liquid which may be used as a defense mechanism against predators.
The Crested Bandfish occurs in all oceans where it most likely lives in deep waters.
In Australia it has been recorded from scattered locations off New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Only two species in the family Lophotidae are currently considered to be valid; Lophotus lacepede and Eumecichthys fiski, the Unicornfish. The family is in need of revision and additional species may be recognised in the future.
Related links
- View more images of the fish in the top photo: head, wound from Cookie cutter bite
- View the Boing Boing archive
- View the Crested Bandfish enquiry page
- View the Oarfishes, Bandfishes, Ribbonfishes, Opahs list
Further reading
- Craig, M.T. & P.A. Hastings. 2004. Notes on the Systematics of the Crested Genus Lophotus (Lampridiformes: Lophotidae), with a New Record from California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Science. 103(2): 57-65.
- Glover, J.C.M. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, J.C.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Olney, J.E. in Paxton, J.R. & W.N. Eschmeyer (Eds). 1994. Encyclopedia of Fishes. Sydney: New South Wales University Press; San Diego: Academic Press. Pp. 240.
- Olney, J.E. 1999. Lophotidae. 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.
