Crested bandfish

The crested bandfish (Lophotus guentheri) is a species of crestfish in the family Lophotidae. It has a long string-like body, with large eyes, a red dorsal fin, elongated leading rays, and a short anal fin near the caudal fin. It grows up to 2 metres in length.^[2]

Crested bandfish
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Lampriformes
Family:	Lophotidae
Genus:	Lophotus
Species:	L. guentheri
Binomial name
Lophotus guentheri Johnston, 1883

1933 illustration by Louis Thomas Griffin

Etymology

The species was presumably named for Albert Günther, an ichthyologist at the British Museum (Natural History).^[3] In his formal description, Johnston named the species guntheri, although the correct spelling for species named after Günther is guentheri.^[3] The species' common names include the crested bandfish, crestfish, unicorn fish and unicorn ribbon-fish.^[A][3]

Distribution and ecology

The crested bandfish is a marine pelagic species, found at depths up 90 metres,^[3] although it may occur at depths up to 300 metres.^[1] The species has been found in four locations in the western Pacific: in Australia, near Emu Bay, Tasmania and off the New South Wales coast; Johnston Atoll; and southwestern Taiwan.^[1] However, its true distribution is likely wider than this.^[1] The species' diet comprises cephalopods and small fish.^[3] It has an ink sac, which may be used as a defence mechanism when it encounters danger.^[2]

Conservation

Very little is known about the crested bandfish, although specimens have been reported to wash ashore following storms.^[3] The crested bandfish has been evaluated as "Least Concern" for the IUCN Red List.^[1]