Brotula

Brotulas
Hephthocara simum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Ophidiiformes
Family: Bythitidae
Genera

See text.

Brotulas are a family, Bythitidae, of ophidiiform fishes, also known as viviparous brotulas as they bear live young. They are found in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the world. They are small fishes, around 5 centimetres (2.0 in) to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in length, and live in surface waters or around reefs.[1]

A few species are freshwater: for example, the Mexican blind brotula, Ogilbia pearsei, is found in caves and sinkholes in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.

In recent years many new species have been added to this family. In 2007 8 new genera with 20 new species were described in a single paper by Danish and German scientists.[2]

Genera and species

There are more than 100 species in some 36 genera:

References

  1. ^ Neilsen, Jørgen G. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.. ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 134. ISBN 0-12-547665-5. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Schwarzhans & Møller (2007). "Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei, Bythitidae) of the Indo-West pacific. Part III. Beaglichthys, Brosmolus, Monothrix and 8 new genera with description of 20 new species.". The Beagle, Records of the Museum and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 23: 29–110. 
  3. ^ a b c M. E. Anderson (2008). "A new genus with two new species of live-bearing brotulas (Teleostei: Ophidiiformes: Bythitidae) from southern Australia.". Species Diversity 13 (2-3): 149–156. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f Møller & Schwarzhans (2006). "Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei, Bythitidae) of the Indo-west Pacific. Part II. Dermatopsis, Dermatopsoides and Dipulus with description of six new species.". Beagle 22: 39–76. 
  5. ^ John E. Randall & Marc James Hughes (2009). "Grammonus nagaredai, a New Viviparous Marine Fish (Ophidiiformes: Bythitidae) from the Hawaiian Islands". Pacific Science 63 (1): 137–146. doi:10.2984/1534-6188(2009)63[137:GNANVM]2.0.CO;2. 
  6. ^ Nielsen (2007). "Grammonus yunokawai (Ophidiiformes: Bythitidae), a new marine cavefish from the Ryukyu Islands". Ichthyological Research 54 (4): 374–379. doi:10.1007/s10228-007-0412-4. 
  7. ^ a b M. Eric Anderson (2007). "Two New Microbrotula (Teleostei: Ophidiiformes: Bythitidae) from the Southwestern Pacific Ocean, with a Revised Key to the Species". Species Diversity 12: 1–8. 
  8. ^ http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=398418
  9. ^ Møller, Schwarzhans & Nielsen (2004). "Tuamotuichthys bispinosus, a new genus and species from off Tuamotu Islands, South Pacific Ocean (Ophiidiformes, Bythitidae)". Ichthyological Research 51 (2): 146–152. doi:10.1007/s10228-004-0210-1. 
  10. ^ Nielsen, Møller & Randall (2006). "Tuamotuichthys marshallensis, a new species of fish (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae) from the Marshall Islands". Steenstrupia 29 (2): 169–173.