Saccopharyngiforms
The Saccopharyngiformes are a derived lineage of unusual eels within the order Eel, Anguilliformes, and includes families Cyematidae, Monognathidae, Eurypharyngidae, Saccopharyngidae, and the proposed family Neocyematidae. Most of the fish in this group are deep-dwelling and rarely seen, typically known from only a handful of specimens. Species include recognizable fish such as pelican eels (also commonly known as gulper eels) and bobtail eels. Some can live deep in the ocean, well into the aphotic zone, approximately deep. Extensive research has not been conducted on them due to being indirectly observed, with some species known only from their larvae. All families except for the exceptionally rare individuals of proposed family Neoceymatidae (known only from the Atlantic Ocean) are found in all major oceans. Description They have multiple internal differences from the rest of Anguilliformes. Notably, they have no symplectic bone, Operculum (fish), opercular bones, ribs, or Sw ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Pelican Eel
The pelican eel (''Eurypharynx pelecanoides'') is a deep-sea eel. It is the only known member of the genus ''Eurypharynx'' and the family Eurypharyngidae. It belongs to the " saccopharyngiforms", members of which were historically placed in their own order, but are now considered true eels in the order Anguilliformes. The pelican eel has been described by many synonyms, yet nobody has been able to demonstrate that more than one species of pelican eel exists. It is also referred to as the gulper eel (which can also refer to members of the related genus ''Saccopharynx''), pelican gulper, and umbrella-mouth gulper. The specific epithet ''pelecanoides'' refers to the pelican, as the fish's large mouth is reminiscent of that of the pelican. Description The morphology of pelican eel specimens can be hard to describe because they are so fragile that they become damaged when they are recovered from the deep sea's immense pressure. However, certain observations about the physical characte ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Saccopharyngidae
''Saccopharynx'' is a genus of deep-sea eels with large mouths, distensible stomachs and long, scaleless bodies. Commonly, these fish are called gulpers or gulper eels. It is the only genus in the family Saccopharyngidae, and is part of the derived lineage of the " saccopharyngiforms," which includes other mid-water eel species. The name is from Latin ''saccus'' meaning "sack" and Greek φάρυγξ, ''pharynx''. They are generally black in color, and can grow to lengths of 2 m (6.5 feet). They have been found at depths of , and are known to inhabit the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream. Their tails are tipped by a luminous, bulb-shaped organ. The exact purpose of this organ is unknown, although it is most likely used as a lure, similar to the esca of anglerfish. The Saccopharynx diet mostly consists from crustaceans and smaller fish. It has a stretchy stomach that can hold large meals, which is very useful in the deep sea, where food is hard to come by. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Eurypharyngidae
The pelican eel (''Eurypharynx pelecanoides'') is a deep-sea eel. It is the only known member of the genus ''Eurypharynx'' and the family Eurypharyngidae. It belongs to the "saccopharyngiforms", members of which were historically placed in their own order, but are now considered true eels in the order Anguilliformes. The pelican eel has been described by many synonyms, yet nobody has been able to demonstrate that more than one species of pelican eel exists. It is also referred to as the gulper eel (which can also refer to members of the related genus ''Saccopharynx''), pelican gulper, and umbrella-mouth gulper. The specific epithet ''pelecanoides'' refers to the pelican, as the fish's large mouth is reminiscent of that of the pelican. Description The morphology of pelican eel specimens can be hard to describe because they are so fragile that they become damaged when they are recovered from the deep sea's immense pressure. However, certain observations about the physical character ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Bioluminescent Fish
Bioluminescence is the emission of light during a chemiluminescence reaction by living organisms. Bioluminescence occurs in multifarious organisms ranging from marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some fungi, microorganisms including some bioluminescent bacteria, dinoflagellates and terrestrial arthropods such as fireflies. In some animals, the light is bacteriogenic, produced by symbiotic bacteria such as those from the genus '' Vibrio''; in others, it is autogenic, produced by the animals themselves. In most cases, the principal chemical reaction in bioluminescence involves the reaction of a substrate called luciferin and an enzyme, called luciferase. Because these are generic names, luciferins and luciferases are often distinguished by the species or group, e.g. firefly luciferin or cypridina luciferin. In all characterized cases, the enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of the luciferin resulting in excited state oxyluciferin, which is the light emitter of ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Neocyematidae
Neocyematidae is a family of fishes in the order Anguilliformes. This family, established from five described adult specimens of the species '' Neocyema erythrosoma'', was originally thought to be a part of the family Cyematidae, until genomic sequencing DNA sequencing is the process of determining the nucleic acid sequence – the order of nucleotides in DNA. It includes any method or technology that is used to determine the order of the four bases: adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. The ... in 2018 refuted this relationship. Description ''Neocyema'' is known for its vivid orange color and paedomorphic life cycle. One distinguishing feature of this group are the semi-extended jaws, which separate it from Cyematidae. The eyes of the adult form are reduced during the transition from larvae to adulthood, indicating a likelihood of blindness. The larval stage displays no black colorings, in contrast to the larval stages of other saccopharyngiformes, and look similar to t ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Monognathidae
''Monognathus'', or onejaw, is the only genus of the family Monognathidae of deep-sea eels. The name comes from the Greek ''monos'' meaning "one" and ''gnathos'' meaning "jaw", a reference to the large mouth in comparison with the rest of the fish, and also the absence of an upper jaw (maxilla and premaxilla bones are absent). Description The dorsal and anal fins lack bony supports and the pectoral fins are missing. The snout has a fang connected to glands, which are venomous in adults. These eels are virtually blind, with rudimentary eyes and small olfactory organs, although the male olfactory organs are enlarged, perhaps suggesting a method of "sniffing out" a mate. Typical lengths are from 4 to 10 cm (1.5–4 in), the maximum length recorded is 15.9 cm (6.3 in). Distribution They are found at depths of over 2,000 m (6,600 ft), and are found in all oceans. Species The fifteen known species are: * ''Monognathus ahlstromi'' Raju, 1974 (Paddl ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Cyematidae
''Cyema'' is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the monotypic family Cyematidae. The only species in the genus is ''Cyema atrum'', the arrow eel, bobtail eel, bobtail snipe eel or deepwater eel. This species has circumglobal distribution. Taxonomy ''Cyema'' was first proposed as a genus in 1878 by the German-born British ichthyologist Albert Günther when he described its only species ''Cyema atrum''. The type locality of ''C. atrum'' was given as the South Pacific from Challenger station 295 from a depths of and the Antarctic Ocean from Challenger station 158 from a depth of . In 1912 Charles Tate Regan classified this genus in the family Cyematidae, this genus is the only genus classified in that family. Formerly, the genus '' Neocyema'' was classified within this family but it is now classified in the family Neocyematidae. This family is classified within the suborder Anguilloidei of the eel order Anguilliformes. Etymology ''Cyema'' is derived from ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Sexual Dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is the condition where sexes of the same species exhibit different Morphology (biology), morphological characteristics, including characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most dioecy, dioecious species, which consist of most animals and some plants. Differences may include secondary sex characteristics, size, weight, color, markings, or behavioral or cognitive traits. Male-male reproductive competition has evolved a diverse array of sexually dimorphic traits. Aggressive utility traits such as "battle" teeth and blunt heads reinforced as battering rams are used as weapons in aggressive interactions between rivals. Passive displays such as ornamental feathering or song-calling have also evolved mainly through sexual selection. These differences may be subtle or exaggerated and may be subjected to sexual selection and natural selection. The opposite of dimorphism is ''monomorphism'', when both biological sexes are phenotype, ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Lateral Line
The lateral line, also called the lateral line organ (LLO), is a system of sensory organs found in fish, used to detect movement, vibration, and pressure gradients in the surrounding water. The sensory ability is achieved via modified epithelial cells, known as hair cells, which respond to displacement caused by motion and transduce these signals into electrical impulses via excitatory synapses. Lateral lines play an important role in schooling behavior, predation, and orientation. Early in the evolution of fish, some of the sensory organs of the lateral line were modified to function as the electroreceptors called ampullae of Lorenzini. The lateral line system is ancient and basal to the vertebrate clade, as it is found in fishes that diverged over 400 million years ago. Function The lateral line system allows the detection of movement, vibration, and pressure gradients in the water surrounding an animal. It plays an essential role in orientation, predation, and fish ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Bioluminescent
Bioluminescence is the emission of light during a chemiluminescence reaction by living organisms. Bioluminescence occurs in multifarious organisms ranging from marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some fungi, microorganisms including some bioluminescent bacteria, dinoflagellates and terrestrial arthropods such as fireflies. In some animals, the light is bacteriogenic, produced by symbiotic bacteria such as those from the genus '' Vibrio''; in others, it is autogenic, produced by the animals themselves. In most cases, the principal chemical reaction in bioluminescence involves the reaction of a substrate called luciferin and an enzyme, called luciferase. Because these are generic names, luciferins and luciferases are often distinguished by the species or group, e.g. firefly luciferin or cypridina luciferin. In all characterized cases, the enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of the luciferin resulting in excited state oxyluciferin, which is the light emitter of ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |