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Gigantactis is a genus of deep-sea fish of the family Gigantactinidae, first described in 1902 by August Brauer.[3][1] The species in this genus are poorly known and found in all oceans, at depths of 1,000–2,500 metres (3,300–8,200 ft). The most striking feature of these fish is extremely enlarged first filament of dorsal fin, called the illicium, with bioluminescent photophore at its end. (In G. longicauda the length of the illicium can be up to 3.3 times the standard length of the fish.)[4] The genus name, Gigantactis, derives from the Greek, gigas (gigantic ) and aktis (ray), describing the genus by its long dorsal-fin spine which serves as a lure.[5]

Species

As of 2024, there are currently 22 recognized extant species in this genus:[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Brauer, A. (1902). "Diagnosen von neuen Tiefseefischen, welche von der Valdivia-Expedition gesammelt sind". Zoologischer Anzeiger. 15 (668): 295–296 [295].
  2. ^ Froese, R., Pauly, D. (2018). Bailly N (ed.). "Gigantactis Brauer, 1902". FishBase. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Australian Faunal Directory: Gigantactis". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
  4. ^ E. Bertelsen; Theodore W. Pietsch (December 2002). "New Species of Deep-Sea Anglerfish of the Genus Gigantactis (Lophiiformes: Gigantactinidae) from the Western North Atlantic Ocean". Copeia. 2002 (4): 958–961. doi:10.1643/0045-8511(2002)002[0958:NSODSA]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0045-8511. Wikidata Q95667829.
  5. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Gigantactis elsmani" in FishBase. February 2023 version.
  6. ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). Species of Gigantactis in FishBase. March 2013 version.
  7. ^ Rickle, Samantha Z. (2024-05-17). "A New Species of the Anglerfish Genus Gigantactis (Lophiiformes: Ceratioidei) from the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Eastern North Pacific Ocean, an Ecosystem Threatened by Deep-Sea Mining". Ichthyology & Herpetology. 112 (2): 153–155. doi:10.1643/i2023056. ISSN 2766-1512.
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