Unicorn crestfish
| Unicorn crestfish | |
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| Scientific classification | |
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| Phylum: | |
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| Genus: |
Eumecichthys
Regan, 1907
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| Species: |
E. fiski
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| Binomial name | |
| Eumecichthys fiski (Günther, 1890)
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| Synonyms | |
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Lophotes fiski Günther, 1890 |
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The unicorn crestfish or unicornfish, Eumecichthys fiski, is a very rare, little-known species of crestfish in the family Lophotidae, and the only member of its genus. It likely has a worldwide distribution, having been first discovered offshore of Kalk Bay, South Africa, and subsequently reported from the Sea of Japan, southwest Florida, Clarion Island off Mexico, Hawaii, and India. A report from the Bering Sea may have been in error. It is found in the bathypelagic zone, at a depth of around 1,000 m (3,300 ft).[1][2]
This fish has ribbon-like body measuring up to 150 cm (59 in) in length.[1] Its common name comes from a horn-like supraoccipital process projecting forward of its eyes.[3] The upper jaw is protrusible, and the jaws contain small conical teeth.[4] The dorsal fin runs along the entire length of the body and contains 310-392 soft rays; the first three to five dorsal rays at the tip of the projecting ridge are elongated into a pennant. The pectoral fins contain 13-15 rays; the pelvic fins are absent. The anal fin contains five to 9 rays and in adults is split lengthwise to form two rows of nubbins. The caudal fin contains 12-13 rays, with the bottommost ray enlarged and bony. The coloration is silvery with 24-60 dark subvertical bands. The dorsal and caudal fins are crimson.[5]
Eumenichthys is one of three lampriform genera known to possess ink tubes, allowing them to expel a black fluid from their cloacae as a defense against predators. The ink tube is derived from a primitive gut and runs above and parallel to the intestine.[2] A known predator of the unicorn crestfish is the longnose lancetfish, (Alepisaurus ferox); a lancetfish 73 cm (29 in) long has been found that had swallowed a unicorn crestfish 55 cm (22 in) long.[6]
References
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<references />, or <references group="..." />- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2009). "Eumecichthys fiski" in FishBase. March 2009 version.
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