Telescopefish
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2021) |
| Telescopefish | |
|---|---|
| |
| Gigantura chuni | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Aulopiformes |
| Family: | Giganturidae |
| Genus: | Gigantura A. B. Brauer , 1901
|
Telescopefish are small, deep-sea
aulopiform fish comprising the small family Giganturidae. The two known species are within the genus
Gigantura. Though rarely captured, they are found in cold, deep tropical to subtropical waters worldwide.
The common name of these fish is related to their bizarre, tubular
giants in Greek mythology
—coupled with the suffix oura, meaning 'tail', thus Gigantura refers to the greatly elongated, ribbon-like lower half of the tailfin that may comprise over half of the total body length.
Species
The currently recognized species in this genus are:[1]
- A. B. Brauer, 1901 (gigantura)
- A. B. Brauer, 1901 (telescopefish)
Description
The Giganturidae are slender, slightly tapered fish with large heads dominated by large, forward-pointing,
gas bladder is absent and the stomach
is highly distensible.
The transparent
adipose fin
are absent.
Also absent are the
supratemporal bones, the gill rakers, and the branchiostegal rays. The loss of these structures is attributed to neoteny; that is, the retention of larval
characteristics.
Gigantura indica is the larger of the two species at about 20.3 cm standard length (a measurement excluding the caudal fin). However, Gigantura chuni (at about 15.6 cm standard length) is slightly more robust in build.
Life history
Telescopefish are presumed to be solitary, active
barbeled dragonfish. Owing to the telescopefishes' highly extensile jaws and distensible stomachs, they are able to swallow prey larger than themselves; this is also a common adaptation to life in the lean depths (sabertooth fish, black seadevil
).
Telescopefish participate in the
mesopelagic fish migrate to the surface at night to feed before returning to the depths to shelter during the day.[2]
Much less is known of their
metamorphosis
into juvenile or adult form.
See also
References
- ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2012). Species of Gigantura in FishBase. April 2012 version.
- ^ Donovan, by Moira (November 21, 2023). "All the Fish We Cannot See". Hakai Magazine. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
External links
- "Mesopelagic fishes". Encyclopedia of ocean sciences, Vol. 3, 2001. A. G. V. Salvanes and J. B. Kristofersen. February 2005 version. (PDF file.)[dead link]