Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Ogcocephalioidea 

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Euteleosteomorpha
Subcohors: Neoteleostei
Infracohors: Eurypterygia
Sectio: Ctenosquamata
Subsectio: Acanthomorphata
Divisio/Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Subdivisio: Percomorphaceae
Series: Eupercaria
Ordo: Lophiiformes
Subordo: Ogcocephalioidei
Superfamilia: Ogcocephalioidea

Familia: Ogcocephalidae
Genus: Malthopsis
Species: Malthopsis gigas

Name

Type locality: Tashi fish market [Daxi], Yilan, northeastern Taiwan, depth 210-340 meters.

Diagnosis. A species of the genus Malthopsis differing from its congeners in having a relatively long and strong rostrum (5.2–11.5% SL, mean 8.6% SL); rostral spine directed forward and upward; body heavily covered with strong conical bucklers; numerous small and flat bucklers covering dorsal surface between principal bucklers; dorsal and anal fins relatively long (17.6–29.5% SL, 17.4–24.2% SL, respectively); black spots present on dorsal surface; and anal fin extends beyond caudal fin base when fully laid back. It also has the largest adult body size (up to 136.4 mm) among its congeners.

Etymology: The specific name “gigas” is referred to the giant adult body size of the genus.

Distribution: Known from the Indian and Pacific oceans off Madagascar, Somalia, the Andaman Sea, Japan, Taiwan, the Northern Mariana Islands and Australia; and the central Pacific off Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and New Zealand.

Primary references

Ho, H.-C. and K.-T. Shao. 2010. A review of Malthopsis jordani Gilbert, 1905, with description of a new batfish from the Indo-Pacific Ocean (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae). Bulletin of the National Museum of Nature and Science (Ser. A) Supplement No. 4: 9-19.

References

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