Family MELANONIDAE
Melanonids, Pelagic Cods
Compiler and date details
John R. Paxton, Jennifer E. Gates, Dianne J. Bray & Douglass F. Hoese
Introduction
The Melanonidae comprise a single genus and two species. Both species occur in Australian waters.
Melanonids are mesopelagic and bathypelagic in all tropical and temperate oceans. A distinctive feature is the presence of numerous, parallel, fleshy neuromast-bearing ridges on the head. Maximum size is about 27 cm.
The melanonids have not been revised. One species was briefly described and figured by Ayling & Cox (1982). Cohen (1990) treated species in the family.
We thank D.M. Cohen, formerly of LACM, for his advice on this family account.
General References
Ayling, T. & Cox, G.J. 1982. Collins Guide to the Seafishes of New Zealand. Auckland : Collins 343 pp. 48 pls 475 figs.
Cohen, D.M. 1990. Family Melanonidae. 138 in Cohen, D.M., Inada, T., Iwamoto, T. & Scialabba, N. FAO Species Catalogue. Gadiform fishes of the world (order Gadiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cods, hakes, grenadiers and other gadiform fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125. Rome : FAO Vol. 10 442 pp.
Common Name References
Gomon, M.F. 1994. Families Moridae, Melanonidae, Euclichthyidae, Merlucciidae. pp. 324-340 figs 290-303 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [336] (Melanonids)
Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp. [233] (Pelagic Cods)