''Gerlachea'' is a monotypic

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bathydraconidae, the Antarctic dragonfishes, its only species is ''Gerlachea australis''. It is found at depths of from over the Antarctic continental shelf. This species is the only known member of its

Taxonomy

''Gerlachea'' was first described as a genus in 1900 by the Belgian

palaeontologist Paleontology, also spelled as palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of the life of the past, mainly but not exclusively through the study of fossils. Paleontologists use fossils as a means to classify organisms, measure geolo ...

Louis Dollo when he was describing the only species in this monotypic genus ''Gerlachea australis'', the type of which had been collected by the Belgian Antarctic Expedition at a depth of 500 fathoms at 71°34'S, 89°10'W off Antarctica. The genus name honours the leader of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition, Adrien de Gerlache while the specific name ''australis'' means "southern" commemorating that expedition.

Description

''Gerlachea australis'' has its body and cheeks covered in cycloid scales and there are no spines or hooks on the naked operculum. There are bans of small conical teeth in the jaws. The snout is long and flattened and the mouth extends back as far as the rear pore in the interorbital space. There are two lateral lines made up of tubular scales, an upper which is located near the base of the dorsal fin and a lower which is near the base of the anal fin, there is no middle lateral line. The dorsal fin as 44-48 soft rays and the anal fin has 34-36 soft rays. This species grows to a total length of . In alcohol the body is brown with 4-5 darker brown bars which vary in length and width. The operculum and the lower part of the head are light brown, There is a large dark spot at the base of the

pectoral fin Fins are moving appendages protruding from the body of fish that interact with water to generate thrust and help the fish aquatic locomotion, swim. Apart from the tail or caudal fin, fish fins have no direct connection with the vertebral column ...

. The dorsal fin is black at the front bit this narrows to a stripe along the base towards the tail. The anal fin has black tips to its forward rays bit is otherwise light in colour. The caudal and pelvic fins are dark, while the pectoral fin is blackish. There is a dark oblique stripe across the cheek and the tip if the jaws are black.

Distribution and habitat

''Grelachea australis'' is found in the Southern Ocean where it has been recorded at the Antarctic Peninsula, Elephant Island and the Antarctic continental shelf. It is a bathydemersal species found at depths between .

Biology

''Gerlachea australis'' breed when they attain a length greater than in the

Weddell Sea The Weddell Sea is part of the Southern Ocean and contains the Weddell Gyre. Its land boundaries are defined by the bay formed from the coasts of Coats Land and the Antarctic Peninsula. The easternmost point is Cape Norvegia at Princess Martha C ...

. Spawning takes place in the autumn and early winter with the eggs likely to hatch in the following spring. They have a long larval phase. As adults they are predators of pelagic crustaceans such as '' Euphausia superba'', '' Hyperiella antarctica'' and '' Euphausia crystallorophias'', as well as other amphipods.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5018422 Bathydraconidae Monotypic fish genera Fish of Antarctica Fish described in 1900