Thymichthysis agenusof marineray-finned fishesbelonging to thefamilyBrachionichthyidae,the handfishes. Like all members of the handfish family these fishes areendemicto Australia.
| Thymichthys | |
|---|---|
| |
| Red handfish (Thymichthys politus) | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Lophiiformes |
| Family: | Brachionichthyidae |
| Genus: | Thymichthys Last&Gledhill,2009 |
| Type species | |
| Cheironectes politus Richardson,1844[1]
| |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
Taxonomy
editThymichthyswas first proposed as a genus in 2009 by the Australian zoologistsPeter R. LastandDaniel C. Gledhillwhen they reviewed the family Brachionichthyidae.[1][2]Cheironectes politus,which wasdescribedin 1844 by the ScottishnaturalistandexplorerJohn Richardson from theActaeon Islandsin theD'Entrecasteaux ChanneloffTasmania,[3]was designated as thetype species.[1]This genus is classified within the family Brachionichthyidae which the 5th edition ofFishes of the Worldclassifies the family Brachionichthyidae within thesuborderAntennarioideiwithin theorderLophiiformes, the anglerfishes.[4]
Etymology
editThymichthysis a combination ofthymos,meaning "warty growths", andichthys,which means "fish". This is an allusion to the warty protuberances on the skin of this fish.[5]
Species
editThymichthyscontains the following two species:[6]
- Thymichthys politus(Richardson,1844)(Red handfish)
- Thymichthys verrucosus(McCulloch&Waite,1918)(Warty handfish)
Characteristics
editThymichthyshandfish are separated from the other handfish genera by the possession if war-like bumps, clearly marked sensory scales and dermal appendages on the skin. They also have a comparatively deeper body. the depth at the seconddorsal finbeing between 32% and 52% of thestandard length.The body varies in shape from almost triangular to elongate with a slightly compressed cross-section and they have a shortcaudal peduncle.Theirilliciummay be thick or thin and is around 2 to 3.5 times the length of the head and 4 times the length of theesca.The surface of the skin is typically smooth with a scattering of embedded scales. These scales bear short, rearwards pointing and adpressed spinules which have a single or double point and the scales have irregularly shaped bases. They usually have vividly coloured bodies, strongly patterned with spots, blotches and reticulations.[7]The species in this genus have maximum published lengths of around 9 cm (3.5 in).[6]
Distribution
editThymichthyshandfish are endemic to the temperate waters of Australia where they are found fromWilson Bluffon theGreat Australian Bighteast toNew South Walesand south toTasmania.[2]
References
edit- ^abcEschmeyer, William N.;Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.)."Genera in the family Brachionichthyidae".Catalog of Fishes.California Academy of Sciences.Retrieved22 March2024.
- ^abLast, P.R.;Gledhill, D.C. (2009)."A revision of the Australian handfishes (Lophiiformes: Brachionichthyidae), with descriptions of three new genera and nine new species"(PDF).Zootaxa.2252:1–77.
- ^Eschmeyer, William N.;Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.)."Species in the genusThymichthys".Catalog of Fishes.California Academy of Sciences.Retrieved22 March2024.
- ^Nelson, J.S.;Grande, T.C.; Wilson, M.V.H. (2016).Fishes of the World(5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ:John Wiley & Sons.pp. 508–518.doi:10.1002/9781119174844.ISBN978-1-118-34233-6.LCCN2015037522.OCLC951899884.OL25909650M.
- ^Christopher Scharpf (14 November 2022)."Order LOPHIIFORMES (part 1): Families LOPHIIDAE, ANTENNARIIDAE, TETRABRACHIIDAE, LOPHICHTHYIDAE, BRACHIONICHTHYIDAE, CHAUNACIDAE and OGCOCEPHALIDAE".The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database.Christopher Scharpf.Retrieved18 March2024.
- ^abFroese, Rainer;Pauly, Daniel (eds.)."Species in genusThymichthys".FishBase.February 2024 version.
- ^Dianne J. Bray."Thymichthys".Fishes of Australia.Museums Victoria.Retrieved22 March2024.
