An Overdue Family Reunion
An Ichthyological Family Reunion
Meet the Family Members
Solving the Puzzle
Read the Scientific Article
First Impressions - Whalefishes
The whalefishes – or Cetomimidae – were named for the obvious whale-like shape of their bodies, and some species are known to grow to 400mm (15.7 inches) long. These fishes live at least 1000 meters (3,280 feet) below the surface of the ocean, which according to Johnson is "a part of the ocean we still know very little about."
-
- Photo credit: Kunio Amaoka, Charles TurnerWhalefishes, formally known as Cetomimidae, come in a variety of body shapes, but feature a deep lateral line and a wide gaping mouth.
A comprehensive characterization of over 500 whalefish specimens from museums all over the world was published in 1989 by John Paxton – Johnson's closest collaborator in the recent discovery. Among the unique documented characteristics of the whalefishes are a large gaping mouth, a deep lateral line (which runs along the side of the body and contains sensory organs), and a notable lack of pelvic fins and scales.
- See live video of whalefish species, Cetostoma regani
Intriguingly, Paxton reported that out of the entire specimen collection, every sexually mature whalefish specimen was female. This raised more questions than it answered, but it would take a team of scientists another 20 years to explain why no male whalefishes were ever found.
[ TOP ]