Redmouth whalefish

Taxobox
name = Redmouth whalefishes

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Rondeletia bicolor"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
superclassis = Osteichthyes
classis = Actinopterygii
subclassis = Neopterygii
infraclassis = Teleostei
superordo = Acanthopterygii
ordo = Cetomimiformes
familia = Rondeletiidae
genus = "Rondeletia"
species = "R. bicolor" "R. loricata"
binomial = "Rondeletia bicolor"
binomial_authority = Goode & Bean, 1895
binomial2 = "Rondeletia loricata"
binomial2_authority = Abe & Hotta, 1963

The redmouth whalefishes are two species of deep-sea whalefishes in the genus "Rondeletia", the only genus in the family Rondeletiidae. They are apparently close to the velvet whalefish ("Barbourisia rufa"), and apparently also to the gibberfishes (Gibberichthyidae). The latter and the Rondeletiidae are the only known living fishes which have the mysterious Tominaga's organ.Paxton "et al." (2001)]

Like the plant genus of the same name, this genus is named after Guillaume Rondelet.

Redmouth whalefishes are small fishes. "Rondeletia bicolor" grows to about 6 cm long or so, perhaps more. It is most commonly found in the northern Atlantic, but has been documented from the eastern Pacific as well and presumably also occurs in the rest of the Atlantic as well. The better-known "Rondeletia loricata" is known from all oceans between 47°N and S; it has been recorded to reach a length of more than 9 cm when adult and can reach over 10 cm.

Usually found in deep waters of tropical and temperate oceans around the world, down to 3,000 m or more, they make migrations up to shallower waters (around 100 m) at night to feed on crustaceans and amphipods. The larvae occur in the surface waters, down to 50 m; previous to the onset of metamorphosis they can be found in the uppermost few meters, descending as they mature. Notochord flexion occurs at around 4 mm standard length in "R. loricata".

Footnotes

References

* (2001): Larvae and juveniles of the deepsea "whalefishes" "Barbourisia" and "Rondeletia" (Stephanoberyciformes: Barbourisiidae, Rondeletiidae), with comments on family relationships. "Records of the Australian Museum" 53(3): 407-425. [http://www.amonline.net.au/pdf/publications/1352_complete.pdf PDF fulltext]

External links

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