Stylophthalmus
"Stylophthalmus paradoxus", now recognized as the larval form of Idiacanthus fasciola
"Stylophthalmus" (meaning 'stem-eye') was a name used for what was previously believed to be a genus of fish with eyes perched upon periscopic stalks, known in some cases to be almost one third of the length of the animal's actual body.[1] It is now recognised that all species in this genus are the fish larvae[2][3] of already named, distantly related fish in the orders Stomiiformes and Myctophiformes which may have developed this same trait as a result of convergent evolution. Thus, "Stylophthalmus" is an invalid name.
Species
- Stylophthalmus lobiancoi, Mazzarelli, 1909, Now recoginised as a junior synonym of Myctophum punctatum, Rafinesque, 1810[4]
- Stylophthalmus mediterraneus, Mazzarelli, 1810, Now recognised as a junior synonym of Symbolophorus veranyi, Moreau, 1888 [5]
- Stylophthalmus paradoxus, Brauer, 1902, Now recognised as a junior synonym of Idiacanthus fasciola, Peters, 1877 [6] (pictured)
References
- ↑ Proujan. C., 1971, Secrets of The Sea, London: Readers Digest Association Limited, Page 62
- ↑ Why are the eyes of larval Black Dragonfish on stalks? - Australian Museum
- ↑ WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Stylophthalmus
- ↑ WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Stylophthalmus lobiancoi Mazzarelli, 1909
- ↑ WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Stylophthalmus mediterraneus Mazzarelli, 1909
- ↑ WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Stylophthalmus paradoxus Brauer, 1902