Crested bandfish

The crested bandfish (Lophotus guntheri) is a species of crestfish in the family Lophotidae. It has a long string-like body, with large eyes, a red dorsal fin, elongated leading rays, and a short anal fin near the caudal fin. It grows up to 2 metres in length.[2]

Crested bandfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Lampriformes
Family:
Lophotidae
Genus:
Lophotus
Species:
L. guntheri
Binomial name
Lophotus guntheri
Johnston, 1883

Etymology

The species was presumably named for Albert Günther, an ichthyologist at the British Museum (Natural History).[3] In his formal description, Johnston named the species guntheri, although the correct spelling for species named after Günther is guentheri.[3] The species' common names include the crested bandfish, crestfish, unicorn fish and unicorn ribbon-fish.[upper-alpha 1][3]

Distribution and ecology

The crested bandfish is a marine pelagic species, found at depths up 90 metres,[3] although it may occur at depths up to 300 metres.[1] The species has been found in four locations in the western Pacific: in Australia, near Emu Bay, Tasmania and off the New South Wales coast; Johnston Atoll; and southwestern Taiwan.[1] However, its true distribution is likely wider than this.[1] The species' diet comprises cephalopods and small fish.[3] It has an ink sac, which may be used as a defence mechanism when it encounters danger.[2]

Conservation

Very little is known about the crested bandfish, although specimens have been reported to wash ashore following storms.[3] The crested bandfish has been evaluated as "Least Concern" for the IUCN Red List,[1] and is harmless to humans.[4]

References

Notes
  1. Species citation: Lophotus guntheri Johnston (1883), Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1882: 177. Type locality: near Emu Bay, northwestern coast of Tasmania.[3]

Citations
  1. J. Moore (2019) Lophotus guntheri IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2019: e.T123374956A123376508. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  2. "Crested Bandfish, Lophotus guntheri Johnston, 1883". The Australian Museum. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  3. Dianne J. Bray (2020) Lophotus guentheri Fishes of Australia. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  4. "Lophotus guntheri summary page". FishBase. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
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