Genus Polyipnus

Summary:

A genus of marine hatchetfishes found in all oceans. More than 30 species are known, with 10 species found in Australian waters.

Species of Polyipnus have the following characteristics: Body very deep, compressed; underside with a bony keel; a small bony blade with 2 posterolaterally directed spines before the dorsal fin; posttemporal with 1–3 spines; eye large, focused laterally; mouth small, nearly vertical, ending before orbit; teeth tiny, conical, in 2–3 rows; dorsal adipose fin usually present, moderately long and low; anal fin moderately long; pectoral fin of moderate size; pelvic fin small, below dorsal fin.

Author: Dianne J. Bray & Martin F. Gomon

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Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray & Martin F. Gomon, Polyipnus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 20 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/genus/1195

References

Baird, R.C. 1971. The systematics, distribution, and zoogeography of the marine hatchetfishes (family Sternoptychidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 142(1): 1-128 figs 1-80

Harold, A.S. 1994. A taxonomic revision of the sternoptychid genus Polyipnus (Teleostei: Stomiiformes) with an analysis of phylogenetic relationships. Bulletin of Marine Science 54(2): 428-534 figs 1-60

Harold, A.S. 1999. Families Gonostomatidae, Sternoptychidae, Phosichthyidae, Astronesthidae, Stomiidae, Chauliodontidae, Melanostomiidae, Idiacanthidae, Malacosteidae. pp. 1896-1917 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 1397-2068 pp.

Harold, A.S. & M.F. Gomon. 2008. Family Sternoptychidae. In: Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Harold, A.S., J.H., III Wessel, & R.K. Johnson. 1998. A new species of Polyipnus (Teleostei: Stomiiformes) from the western Indian Ocean, with comments on sternoptychid ecology. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 111 (4): 942-953.

Last, P.R. & A.S. Harold. 1994. Polyipnus latirastrus n. sp., a new and unusual hatchetfish (Stomiiformes: Sternoptychidae) from the western Pacific. Copeia 1994(1): 210-215.