Monomitopus

Monomitopus is a genus of cusk-eels.^[2][1] They are oviparous.^[3]

Monomitopus
M. agassizii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Ophidiiformes
Family:	Ophidiidae
Subfamily:	Neobythitinae
Genus:	Monomitopus Alcock, 1890
Type species
Sirembo nigripinnis Alcock 1889[1]

Life cycle

Analysis of stable oxygen isotope composition of otoliths has shown that Monomitopus pallidus and Monomitopus kumae undergo an ontogenetic habitat shift, spending their early life pelagically in shallower waters, before descending to the deep-sea floor where they stay for rest of their lives.^[3] The larvae of these species have been reported to coil tightly and drift in the pelagic until settlement.^[4] A subset of species have been found to have a bilaterally paired hole or fenestra in the skull.^[5]

Species

There are currently 14 recognized species in this genus:

• Monomitopus ainonaka M. Girard, Carter & Johnson, 2023^[4]
• Monomitopus agassizii (Goode & T. H. Bean, 1896)
• Monomitopus conjugator (Alcock, 1896)
• Monomitopus garmani (H. M. Smith & Radcliffe, 1913)
• Monomitopus kumae D. S. Jordan & C. L. Hubbs, 1925
• Monomitopus longiceps H. M. Smith & Radcliffe, 1913
• Monomitopus magnus H. J. Carter & Cohen, 1985
• Monomitopus malispinosus (Garman, 1899)
• Monomitopus metriostoma (Vaillant, 1888)
• Monomitopus microlepis H. M. Smith & Radcliffe, 1913
• Monomitopus nigripinnis (Alcock, 1889)
• Monomitopus pallidus H. M. Smith & Radcliffe, 1913
• Monomitopus torvus Garman, 1899
• Monomitopus vitiazi (J. G. Nielsen, 1971) (Spearcheek cusk)

Synonyms

Monomitopus americanus J. G. Nielsen, 1971 was recently reclassified as Selachophidium americanum.^[5]