Sea toad

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Sea toads
Image:Chaunacops coloratus.jpg
Chaunacops coloratus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lophiiformes
Family: Chaunacidae
Genera

Bathychaunax
Chaunax
See text for species.

Sea toads are a family, Chaunacidae, of deep-sea anglerfishes.[1]

They are bottom-dwelling fishes found on the continental slopes of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

They have large globose bodies and a short compressed tail, and are covered with small spiny scales. Their first dorsal fin ray is modified into a short bioluminescent lure which dangles forward over the mouth, which is turned upwards so as to be nearly vertical. The sensory canals of the lateral lines are especially conspicuous.[2]

[edit] Species

There are fifteen species in two genera:

  • Genus Chaunacops Garman, 1899.
    • Chaunacops coloratus (Garman, 1899).
    • Chaunacops melanostomus (Caruso, 1989).
    • Chaunacops roseus (Barbour, 1941).
  • Genus Chaunax Lowe, 1846.
    • Chaunax abei Le Danois, 1978.
    • Chaunax breviradius Le Danois, 1978.
    • Coffinfish, Chaunax endeavouri Whitley, 1929.
    • Chaunax fimbriatus Hilgendorf, 1879.
    • Chaunax flammeus Le Danois, 1979.
    • Chaunax latipunctatus Le Danois, 1984.
    • Chaunax penicillatus McCulloch, 1915.
    • Pink frogmouth, Chaunax pictus Lowe, 1846.
    • Redeye gaper, Chaunax stigmaeus Fowler, 1946.
    • Chaunax suttkusi Caruso, 1989.
    • Chaunax tosaensis Okamura & Oryuu, 1984.
    • Chaunax umbrinus Gilbert, 1905.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Chaunacidae". FishBase. Ed. Rainer Froese and Daniel Pauly. February 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
  2. ^ John H. Caruso (2005). Chaunacidae. Tree of Life web project. Retrieved on 3 April 2006.