Eumecichthys fiski, the unicorn crestfish or unicornfish, is a very rare, little-known species of crestfish in the family Lophotidae, and the only member of the genus Eumecichthys. It likely has a worldwide distribution, having been first discovered offshore of Kalk Bay, South Africa, and subsequently reported from the Sea of Japan, southwest Florida, Clarion Island off Mexico, Hawaii, and India. A report from the Bering Sea may have been in error. It is found in the bathypelagic zone, at a depth of around 1,000 m (3,300 ft).[2][3]
| Unicorn crestfish | |
|---|---|
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| Eumecichthys fiski, conventional and X-ray images | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Lampriformes |
| Family: | Lophotidae |
| Genus: | Eumecichthys Regan, 1907 |
| Species: | E. fiski |
| Binomial name | |
| Eumecichthys fiski (Günther, 1890) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Lophotes fiski Günther, 1890 | |
This fish has ribbon-like body measuring up to 150 cm (59 in) in length.[2] Its common name comes from a horn-like supraoccipital process projecting forward of its eyes.[4] The upper jaw is protrusible, and the jaws contain small conical teeth.[5] The dorsal fin runs along the entire length of the body and contains 310-392 soft rays; the first three to five dorsal rays at the tip of the projecting ridge are elongated into a pennant. The pectoral fins contain 13-15 rays; the pelvic fins are absent. The anal fin contains five to 9 rays and in adults is split lengthwise to form two rows of nubbins. The caudal fin contains 12-13 rays, with the bottommost ray enlarged and bony. The coloration is silvery with 24-60 dark subvertical bands. The dorsal and caudal fins are crimson.[6]
Eumenichthys is one of three lampriform genera known to possess ink tubes, allowing them to expel a black fluid from their cloacae as a defense against predators. The ink tube is derived from a primitive gut and runs above and parallel to the intestine.[3] A known predator of the unicorn crestfish is the longnose lancetfish (Alepisaurus ferox); a lancetfish 73 cm (29 in) long has been found that had swallowed a unicorn crestfish 55 cm (22 in) long.[7] An extinct relative, Babelichthys, is known from the Eocene of Iran.[8]
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References
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