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Monognathus

Genus of fishes From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Monognathus
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Monognathus, or onejaw, is the only genus of the family Monognathidae of deep-sea eels. The name comes from the Greek monos meaning "one" and gnathos meaning "jaw", a reference to the large mouth in comparison with the rest of the fish, and also the absence of an upper jaw (maxilla and premaxilla bones are absent).[3]

Quick Facts Scientific classification, Species ...
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Description

The dorsal and anal fins lack bony supports and the pectoral fins are missing. The snout has a fang connected to glands, which are venomous in adults.[4] These eels are virtually blind, with rudimentary eyes and small olfactory organs, although the male olfactory organs are enlarged, perhaps suggesting a method of "sniffing out" a mate.[3]

Typical lengths are from 4 to 10 cm (1.5–4 in), the maximum length recorded is 15.9 cm (6.3 in).

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Distribution

They are found at depths of over 2,000 m (6,600 ft), and are found in all oceans.[5][3]

Species

The fifteen known species are:[5]

  • Monognathus ahlstromi Raju, 1974 (Paddletail onejaw)
  • Monognathus berteli J. G. Nielsen & Hartel, 1996.
  • Monognathus bertini Bertelsen & J. G. Nielsen, 1987.
  • Monognathus boehlkei Bertelsen & J. G. Nielsen, 1987.
  • Monognathus bruuni Bertin, 1936.
  • Monognathus herringi Bertelsen & J. G. Nielsen, 1987.
  • Monognathus isaacsi Raju, 1974.
  • Monognathus jesperseni Bertin, 1936.
  • Monognathus jesse Raju, 1974.
  • Monognathus nigeli Bertelsen & J. G. Nielsen, 1987.
  • Monognathus ozawai Bertelsen & J. G. Nielsen, 1987.
  • Monognathus rajui Bertelsen & J. G. Nielsen, 1987.
  • Monognathus rosenblatti Bertelsen & J. G. Nielsen, 1987.
  • Monognathus smithi Bertelsen & J. G. Nielsen, 1987.
  • Monognathus taningi Bertin, 1936.

References

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