Mirrorbelly
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 Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
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| Opisthoproctus grimaldii Zugmayer, 1911 |
The 'mirrorbelly' or 'barreleye', Opisthoproctus grimaldii, a barreleye of the genus Opisthoproctus, is found in most deep tropical and subtropical oceans and seas, from depths of 200 to 2,000 m. Its length is between 6 and 8 cm.
The mirrorbelly is a small strangely-shaped deepwater species with a deep body and the belly flattened to form a sole along the under surface giving the body an almost triangular cross-section. The strangely pointed head is naked but the body and sole are covered with large loosely attached scales. There are only a few teeth in the mouth which is underslung beneath an elongated translucent beak-like snout. On the top of the head the tubular eyes are directed upwards and these eyes and the brain are both clearly visible through the translucent head. The flattened ventral sole seems to sct as a light reflecting mirror for a small photophore near the anus and may serve as a species recognition device in the semi-darkness of their normal midwater habitat.
Mirrorbellies are largely transparent with scattered patches of dark pigment on the lower part of the body and on the ventral sole. This widespread species is thought to feed on siphonophore jellyfishes.
[edit] References
- "Opisthoproctus grimaldii". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8
