''Polyipnus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

ocean The ocean (also the sea or the world ocean) is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of the surface of Earth and contains 97% of Earth's water. An ocean can also refer to any of the large bodies of water into which the wo ...

ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fishes, is a class of bony fish. They comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. The ray-finned fishes are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or h ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Sternoptychidae. This is the largest genus of the

marine hatchetfish Marine hatchetfishes or deep-sea hatchetfishes are small deep-sea mesopelagic ray-finned fish of the stomiiform subfamily Sternoptychinae. They should not be confused with the freshwater hatchetfishes, which are not particularly closely related ...

es subfamily Sternoptychinae and indeed of the entire

Sternoptychidae The marine hatchetfishes or deep-sea hatchetfishes as well as the related bottlelights, pearlsides and constellationfishes are small deep-sea ray-finned fish of the stomiiform family Sternoptychidae. They are not closely related to and should ...

. It is not quite as

apomorph In phylogenetics, an apomorphy (or derived trait) is a novel character or character state that has evolved from its ancestral form (or plesiomorphy). A synapomorphy is an apomorphy shared by two or more taxa and is therefore hypothesized to hav ...

ic as their relatives; it may be that the genus is actually a

paraphyletic In taxonomy (general), taxonomy, a group is paraphyletic if it consists of the group's most recent common ancestor, last common ancestor and most of its descendants, excluding a few Monophyly, monophyletic subgroups. The group is said to be pa ...

assemblage of less advanced Sternoptychinae and would need to be split.

Fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...

s of this genus show that they have existed at least since the

Early Oligocene The Rupelian is, in the geologic timescale, the older of two ages or the lower of two stages of the Oligocene Epoch/ Series. It spans the time between . It is preceded by the Priabonian Stage (part of the Eocene) and is followed by the Chattia ...

, about 30

million years ago The abbreviation Myr, "million years", is a unit of a quantity of (i.e. ) years, or 31.556926 teraseconds. Usage Myr (million years) is in common use in fields such as Earth science and cosmology. Myr is also used with Mya (million years ago). ...

Species

There are currently 33 recognized species in this genus: * ''

Polyipnus aquavitus ''Polypinus aquavitus'', commonly known as the aquavit hatchetfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Polyipnus ''Polyipnus'' is a genus of oceanic ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. This is the largest genus of the mar ...

'' R. C. Baird, 1971 (aquavit hatchetfish) * ''

Polyipnus asper ''Polyipnus asper'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Polyipnus. It is found in the Eastern Indian Ocean Eastern may refer to: Transportation *China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai *Eastern Air, form ...

'' Harold, 1994 * ''

Polyipnus asteroides ''Polyipnus asteroides'', commonly known as the shortspine tenplate, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. It occurs in deep water in the western Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Maine southward to the Caribbean Sea a ...

'' L. P. Schultz, 1938 * ''

Polyipnus bruuni ''Polyipnus bruuni'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus''. It is found in the Western Indian Ocean Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Cr ...

'' Harold, 1994 * ''

Polyipnus clarus ''Polyipnus clarus'', commonly known as the stareye hatchetfish or slope hatchetfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. It occurs in deep water in the western Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Maine southward to the ...

'' Harold, 1994 (slope hatchetfish) * ''

Polyipnus danae ''Polyipnus danae'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus '' Polyipnus''. It is found in the South China Sea The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China ...

'' Harold, 1990 * ''

Polyipnus elongatus ''Polyipnus elongatus'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. It can be found in deep water in the southwestern Pacific Ocean around Australia, at depths down to about . Status ''Polyipnus elongatus'' is a common bent ...

'' Borodulina, 1979 * '' Polyipnus fraseri'' Fowler, 1934 * ''

Polyipnus indicus ''Polyipnus indicus'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus''. It is found in the Western Indian Ocean Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Cr ...

'' L. P. Schultz, 1961 * ''

Polyipnus inermis ''Polyipnus inermis'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus ''Polyipnus'' is a genus of oceanic ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. This is the largest genus of the marine hatchetfishes subfamily Sternoptychinae ...

'' Borodulina, 1981 * ''

Polyipnus kiwiensis ''Polyipnus kiwiensis'', commonly known as the kiwi hatchetfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus''. They live in the Tasman Sea off Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign ...

'' R. C. Baird, 1971 (kiwi hatchetfish) * ''

Polyipnus laternatus ''Polyipnus laternatus'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus ''Polyipnus'' is a genus of oceanic ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. This is the largest genus of the marine hatchetfishes subfamily Sternoptychin ...

'' Garman, 1899 * ''

Polyipnus latirastrus ''Polyipnus latirastrus'', commonly known as the combside hatchetfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. It occurs in deep water in the western Pacific Ocean, at depths between about . References {{Taxonbar, fro ...

Last A last is a mechanical form shaped like a human foot. It is used by shoemakers and cordwainers in the manufacture and repair of shoes. Lasts typically come in pairs and have been made from various materials, including hardwoods, cast iron, and ...

& Harold, 1994 (comb-side hatchetfish) * ''

Polyipnus limatulus ''Polyipnus limatulus'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus ''Polyipnus'' is a genus of oceanic ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. This is the largest genus of the marine hatchetfishes subfamily Sternoptychina ...

'' Harold & Wessel, 1998 * ''

Polyipnus matsubarai ''Polyipnus matsubarai'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus''. Its standard length is 9.7 cm and lives at a depth of 240 metres. They inhabit the waters around Japan, the Philippine Sea The Philippine Sea is a mar ...

'' L. P. Schultz, 1961 * ''

Polyipnus meteori ''Polyipnus meteori'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus'' found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocea ...

'' Kotthaus, 1967 * ''

Polyipnus notatus ''Polyipnus notatus'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus ''Polyipnus'' is a genus of oceanic ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. This is the largest genus of the marine hatchetfishes subfamily Sternoptychinae ...

'' Harold, I. M. Kemp &

Shore A shore or a shoreline is the fringe of land at the edge of a large body of water, such as an ocean, sea, or lake. In physical oceanography, a shore is the wider fringe that is geologically modified by the action of the body of water p ...

, 2016 Harold, A.S., Kemp, I.M. & Shore, S.K. (2016): A new species of ''Polyipnus'' (Teleostei: Stomiiformes) from the western Pacific, with comments on the ''P. triphanos'' species complex. ''Zootaxa, 4111 (5): 555–564.'' * ''

Polyipnus nuttingi ''Polyipnus nuttingi'', commonly known as Nutting's hatchet fish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. It occurs in deep water in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, at depths between about . References * {{Taxonbar, from=Q37 ...

'' C. H. Gilbert, 1905 (Nutting's hatchetfish) * ''

Polyipnus oluolus ''Polyipnus oluolus'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus ''Polyipnus'' is a genus of oceanic ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. This is the largest genus of the marine hatchetfishes subfamily Sternoptychinae ...

'' R. C. Baird, 1971 * ''

Polyipnus omphus ''Polyipnus omphus'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Polyipnus ''Polyipnus'' is a genus of oceanic ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. This is the largest genus of the marine hatchetfishes subfamily Sternoptychinae an ...

'' R. C. Baird, 1971 * ''

Polyipnus ovatus ''Polyipnus ovatus'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus''. It is found in the South China Sea, Celebes Sea, and Java Sea The Java Sea ( id, Laut Jawa, jv, Segara Jawa) is an extensive shallow sea on the Sunda Shelf, ...

'' Harold, 1994 * ''

Polyipnus parini ''Polyipnus parini'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus ''Polyipnus'' is a genus of oceanic ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. This is the largest genus of the marine hatchetfishes subfamily Sternoptychinae a ...

'' Borodulina, 1979 * ''

Polyipnus paxtoni ''Polyipnus paxtoni'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus ''Polyipnus'' is a genus of oceanic ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. This is the largest genus of the marine hatchetfishes subfamily Sternoptychinae ...

'' Harold, 1989 (Paxton's hatchetfish) * ''

Polyipnus polli ''Polyipnus polli'', commonly known as the round hatchetfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. It occurs in deep water in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, at depths between about . Etymology The fish is named in honor ...

'' L. P. Schultz, 1961 (round hatchetfish) * ''

Polyipnus ruggeri ''Polyipnus ruggeri'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus''. It is found in the Indo-Pacific The Indo-Pacific is a vast biogeographic region of Earth. In a narrow sense, sometimes known as the Indo-West Pacific or I ...

'' R. C. Baird, 1971 (rugby hatchetfish) * ''

Polyipnus soelae ''Polyipnus soelae'', commonly known as the soela hatchetfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus ''Polyipnus'' is a genus of oceanic ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. This is the largest genus of the marine ...

'' Harold, 1994 (Soela hatchetfish) * ''

Polyipnus spinifer ''Polyipnus spinifer'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus ''Polyipnus'' is a genus of oceanic ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. This is the largest genus of the marine hatchetfishes subfamily Sternoptychinae ...

'' Borodulina, 1979 * ''

Polyipnus spinosus ''Polyipnus spinosus'', commonly known as the spiny hatchetfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. It occurs in deep water in the western central Pacific Ocean, at depths down to about . References * {{Taxonbar ...

'' Günther, 1887 (spiny hatchetfish) * ''

Polyipnus stereope ''Polyipnus stereope'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. It occurs in deep water in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, at depths between about . References * {{Taxonbar, from=Q1811236 Sternoptychidae Fish of Ea ...

'' D. S. Jordan & Starks, 1904 * ''

Polyipnus surugaensis ''Polyipnus surugaensis'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus''. It lives in deep water environments in Suruga Bay Suruga Bay (駿河湾, ''Suruga-wan'') is a bay on the Pacific coast of Honshū in Shizuoka Prefecture, Jap ...

'' Aizawa, 1990 * ''

Polyipnus tridentifer ''Polyipnus tridentifer'', commonly known as the three-spined hatchetfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. It occurs in deep water in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, at depths between about . References * {{Taxonbar, ...

McCulloch McCulloch is a Scottish surname. It's a variation of the Northern Irish surname McCullough. It's commonly found in Galloway. Notable people with the surname include: *Alan McCulloch (politician), New Zealand politician *Alan McLeod McCulloch (1 ...

, 1914 (three-spined hatchetfish) * ''

Polyipnus triphanos ''Polyipnus triphanos'', commonly known as the threelight hatchetfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. It occurs in deep water in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, at depths between about . References * {{Taxonbar, fro ...

'' L. P. Schultz, 1938 (three-light hatchetfish) * ''

Polyipnus unispinus ''Polyipnus unispinus'' is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Polyipnus ''Polyipnus'' is a genus of oceanic ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae. This is the largest genus of the marine hatchetfishes subfamily Sternoptychi ...

'' L. P. Schultz, 1938

References

* Sternoptychidae Extant Rupelian first appearances Taxa named by Albert Günther Ray-finned fish genera Rupelian genus first appearances {{Stomiiformes-stub