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Thought to be monotypic for decades, the only species in the goosefish genus Lophiomus Gill, Lm. setigerus (Vahl), shows a wide range of morphological variation and is distributed widely in the Indo-West Pacific (IWP). In this study, datasets for two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes sequences obtained from samples of Lophiomus collected in different localities across the IWP were constructed and analyzed to explore the phylogeny and species diversity within the genus. Our integrated approach with multiline evidence unveiled an unanticipated richness of at least six delimited species of Lophiomus. Herein, based on materials already available from museums and new specimens obtained primarily through the Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos program surveying IWP benthic fauna, we formally describe three new species: Lm. immaculioralis sp. nov., Lm. nigriventris sp. nov., and Lm. carusoi sp. nov. Also, we resurrect Lm. laticeps stat. rev. from synonyms of Lm. setigerus. These species can be diagnosed by genetics, body coloration, patterns on the floor of the mouth, peritoneum pigmentation, morphometric measurements, and meristic counts of cranial spines, dorsal-fin spines, and pectoral-fin and pelvic-fin rays from each other and from Lm. setigerus. The species Lm. setigerus, as well as the genus Lophiomus, are re-described accordingly based on the new results. Amended identification keys to the four extant lophiid genera and to species of Lophiomus are also provided.

Abstract Background The anglerfish, belonging to the teleost order Lophiiformes, are a diverse and species-rich group of fish that are known to exhibit a number of unique morphological, reproductive and immunological adaptations. Work to date has identified the loss of specific adaptive immune components in two of the five Lophiiformes sub-orders (Lophioidei and Ceratioidei), while no anomalies have been identified to date in two other sub-orders, Antennaroidei and Chaunacoidei. The immunogenome of the fifth sub-order, Ogcocephaloidei has not yet been investigated, and we have therefore used whole genome shotgun sequencing, combined with RNA-seq, to survey the adaptive immune capabilities of the polka-dot batfish, O. cubifrons, as a representative of this as yet unexplored sub-order. Results We find that the O. cubifrons genome encodes the core genes needed to mount adaptive T and B cell responses. These genes include those necessary for rearranging and editing antigen receptors, the antigen receptors themselves; as well as the co-receptors, signalling molecules, and antigen presenting molecules (both class I and class II) needed for B cell and T cell development and activation. Conclusions From an immune perspective, the polka-dot batfish has a canonical complement of adaptive immune genes, and does not exhibit any of the adaptive immune changes previously identified in monkfish and oceanic anglerfish.

Background: The anglerfish, belonging to the teleost order Lophiiformes, are a diverse and species-rich group of fish that are known to exhibit a number of unique morphological, reproductive and immunological adaptations. Work to date has identified the loss of specific adaptive immune components in two of the five Lophiiformes sub-orders (Lophioidei and Ceratioidei), while no anomalies have been identified to date in two other sub-orders, Antennaroidei and Chaunacoidei. The immunogenome of the fifth sub-order, Ogcocephaloidei has not yet been investigated, and we have therefore used whole genome shotgun sequencing, combined with RNA-seq, to survey the adaptive immune capabilities of the polka-dot batfish, O. cubifrons, as a representative of this as yet unexplored sub-order. Results: We find that the O. cubifrons genome encodes the core genes needed to mount adaptive T and B cell responses. These genes include those necessary for rearranging and editing antigen receptors, the antigen receptors themselves; as well as the co-receptors, signalling molecules, and antigen presenting molecules (both class I and class II) needed for B cell and T cell development and activation. Conclusions: From an immune perspective, the polka-dot batfish has a canonical complement of adaptive immune genes, and does not exhibit any of the adaptive immune changes previously identified in monkfish and oceanic anglerfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult anglerfish conduct annual migrations between spawning areas and feeding areas; for Faroese waters this migration has so far not been described. Therefore, anglerfish migration and distribution in Faroese waters was investigated by mark-recapture studies, including data storage tags, as well as data from scientific trawl surveys, commercial trawlers and gillnetters. The fish distribution was compared to hydrographical conditions such as sea surface- and bottom temperature. A clear seasonal offshore-onshore migration was observed. Anglerfish occupied shallower waters (

Abstract Objective Analyze key features of the anglerfish Lophius piscatorius mitochondrial transcriptome based on high-throughput total RNA sequencing. Results We determined the complete mitochondrial DNA and corresponding transcriptome sequences of L. piscatorius. Key features include highly abundant mitochondrial ribosomal RNAs (10–100 times that of mRNAs), and that cytochrome oxidase mRNAs appeared > 5 times more abundant than both NADH dehydrogenase and ATPase mRNAs. Unusual for a vertebrate mitochondrial mRNA, the polyadenylated COI mRNA was found to harbor a 75 nucleotide 3′ untranslated region. The mitochondrial genome expressed several non-canonical genes, including the long noncoding RNAs lncCR-H, lncCR-L and lncCOI. Whereas lncCR-H and lncCR-L mapped to opposite strands in a non-overlapping organization within the control region, lncCOI appeared novel among vertebrates. We found lncCOI to be a highly abundant mitochondrial RNA in antisense to the COI mRNA. Finally, we present the coding potential of a humanin-like peptide within the large subunit ribosomal RNA.

Batfishes of the family Ogcocephalidae are a group of Lophiiformes found in tropical and subtropical marine waters with specific morphological adaptations for a deep-water benthic lifestyle. This study, morphologically and genetically documents the range extension of Indo-Pacific batfish, Halieutaea indica into the northern marginal waters of the Indian Ocean (Gulf of Oman), and confirms the presence of more shared fish elements of the Gulf of Oman with the Indian Ocean. DNA barcoding based on the mitochondrial COI gene sequence revealed that the collected batfish specimens from the Gulf of Oman are conspecific with H. indica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anglerfishes are a highly diverse group of species with unique characteristics. Here, we report the first chromosome-level genome of a species in the order Lophiiformes, the yellow goosefish (Lophius litulon), obtained by whole genome shotgun sequencing and high-throughput chromatin conformation capture. Approximately 97.20% of the assembly spanning 709.23 Mb could be anchored to 23 chromosomes with a contig N50 of 164.91 kb. The BUSCO value was 95.4%, suggesting that the quality of the assembly was high. A comparative gene family analysis identified expanded and contracted gene families, and these may be associated with adaptation to the benthic environment and the lack of scales in the species. A majority of positively selected genes were related to metabolic processes, suggesting that digestive and metabolic system evolution expanded the diversity of yellow goosefish prey. Our study provides a valuable genetic resource for understanding the mechanisms underlying the unique features of the yellow goosefish and for investigating anglerfish evolution.

The deep-sea batfish genus Halieutopsis is reviewed based on worldwide collections. Sixteen species are recognized, including five newly described species: Halieutopsis echinoderma sp. nov. from eastern Taiwan and northeastern Australia, Halieutopsis kawaii sp. nov. from Taiwan and Indonesia, Halieutopsis okamurai sp. nov. from southeastern Japan, Halieutopsis murrayi sp. nov. from the Gulf of Aden, and Halieutopsis taiwanea sp. nov. from northeastern Taiwan. These species differ from their congeners in escal morphology, squamation, and morphometric proportions. Dibranchus nasutus Alcock, 1891, a senior synonym of Halieutopsis vermicularis Smith & Radcliffe, 1912, as well as Dibranchus nudiventer Lloyd, 1909 and Coelophrys oblonga Smith & Radcliffe, 1912, are recognized as valid species in Halieutopsis. Comments on the systematics and biogeographic distributions of the species of Halieutopsis are provided, along with a key to the species.

Anglerfishes are a highly diverse group of species with unique characteristics. Here, we report the first chromosome-level genome of a species in the order Lophiiformes, the yellow goosefish (Lophius litulon), obtained by whole genome shotgun sequencing and high-throughput chromatin conformation capture. Approximately 97.20% of the assembly spanning 709.23 Mb could be anchored to 23 chromosomes with a contig N50 of 164.91 kb. The BUSCO value was 95.4%, suggesting that the quality of the assembly was high. A comparative gene family analysis identified expanded and contracted gene families, and these may be associated with adaptation to the benthic environment and the lack of scales in the species. A majority of positively selected genes were related to metabolic processes, suggesting that digestive and metabolic system evolution expanded the diversity of yellow goosefish prey. Our study provides a valuable genetic resource for understanding the mechanisms underlying the unique features of the yellow goosefish and for investigating anglerfish evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Analyze key features of the anglerfish Lophius piscatorius mitochondrial transcriptome based on high-throughput total RNA sequencing. Results: We determined the complete mitochondrial DNA and corresponding transcriptome sequences of L. piscatorius. Key features include highly abundant mitochondrial ribosomal RNAs (10–100 times that of mRNAs), and that cytochrome oxidase mRNAs appeared > 5 times more abundant than both NADH dehydrogenase and ATPase mRNAs. Unusual for a vertebrate mitochondrial mRNA, the polyadenylated COI mRNA was found to harbor a 75 nucleotide 3′ untranslated region. The mitochondrial genome expressed several non-canonical genes, including the long noncoding RNAs lncCR-H, lncCR-L and lncCOI. Whereas lncCR-H and lncCR-L mapped to opposite strands in a non-overlapping organization within the control region, lncCOI appeared novel among vertebrates. We found lncCOI to be a highly abundant mitochondrial RNA in antisense to the COI mRNA. Finally, we present the coding potential of a humanin-like peptide within the large subunit ribosomal RNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost nothing is known about the diets of bathypelagic fishes, but functional morphology can provide useful tools to infer ecology. Here we quantify variation in jaw and tooth morphologies across anglerfishes (Lophiiformes), a clade spanning shallow and deep-sea habitats. Deep-sea ceratioid anglerfishes are considered dietary generalists due to the necessity of opportunistic feeding in the food-limited bathypelagic zone. We found unexpected diversity in the trophic morphologies of ceratioid anglerfishes. Ceratioid jaws span a functional continuum ranging from species with numerous stout teeth, a relatively slow but forceful bite, and high jaw protrusibility at one end (characteristics shared with benthic anglerfishes) to species with long fang-like teeth, a fast but weak bite and low jaw protrusibility at the other end (including a unique 'wolftrap' phenotype). Our finding of high morphological diversity seems to be at odds with ecological generality, reminiscent of Liem's paradox (morphological specialization allowing organisms to have broader niches). Another possible explanation is that diverse ceratioid functional morphologies may yield similar trophic success (many-to-one mapping of morphology to diet), allowing diversity to arise through neutral evolutionary processes. Our results highlight that there are many ways to be a successful predator in the deep sea.

Cañás, L., Stransky, C., Schlickeisen, J., Sampedro, M. P., and Fariña, A. C. 2012. Use of the otolith shape analysis in stock identification of anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) in the Northeast Atlantic. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 250–256.The geographical variability in the anglerfish Lophius piscatorius otolith shape was investigated to examine biological evidence for the current separation into Northern and Southern stocks of L. piscatorius established in the Southwest European waters (Southern Shelf area) by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). In all, 629 otoliths of L. piscatorius (12–90 cm total length) from commercial fishing and research surveys were collected in two consecutive years, 2008 and 2009. The otolith shape was compared between stocks for differences in univariate descriptors using non-parametric analysis of covariance, as well as elliptical Fourier shape descriptors, through a metric multidimensional scaling and a linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The differences found in the otolith shape between Northern and Southern stocks were not large enough to hold the current status of L. piscatorius regarding stock definition in the Southern Shelf area, although homogeneous mixing between both stocks is not expected as there were significant differences between three univariate descriptors and the LDA was significant. These results are in agreement with the previous L. piscatorius stock identification studies (genetics, body morphology, and migratory behaviour), which do not support the current separation of these stocks but found substructures within the area. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses a study on sensory constraints in temporal segregation in two species of anglerfish, namely, Lophius (L.) piscatorius and L. budegassa. The study procedure included morphological measurements of the sensory organs of 137 L. piscatorius and 274 L. budegassa, and the removal of the otolith sagittae. The differences between the timing of maximum activity of the two species had a consistency to the differences between their eye size and otolith weight. The article also offers information on the evolution of the visual systems of organisms.

Johnson, A. K., Richards, R. A., Cullen, D. W., and Sutherland, S. J. 2008. Growth, reproduction, and feeding of large monkfish, Lophius americanus. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1306–1315. The American monkfish, Lophius americanus, supports important commercial fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic. Although life history information is available for smaller L. americanus, the biology of large monkfish (>70 cm) is poorly understood because relatively few large fish are caught in standard resource surveys. Between 2006 and 2008, 699 L. americanus of 71–118 cm total length were collected from commercial gillnet fishers operating in the mid-Atlantic Bight (n = 689) and in the Gulf of Maine (n = 10) to investigate growth rates, reproductive biology, and feeding habits of large monkfish. All those collected were mature females ranging in age from 7 to 13 years. Growth was linear at an average annual rate of 7.6 cm. Hepatosomatic indices peaked in February and gonadosomatic indices between February and April. Postovulatory follicles and vitellogenic oocytes were observed in the same ovaries, evidence that monkfish spawn over a protracted period and possibly more than once annually. Food habits were similar to those reported for smaller benthic phase monkfish, but cannibalism was more prevalent in large fish (5.6% frequency of occurrence). Frequencies of feeding and cannibalism were greatest in females in the final stage of oocyte maturation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Velasco, F., Landa, J., Barrado, J., and Blanco, M. 2008. Distribution, abundance, and growth of anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) on the Porcupine Bank (west of Ireland). – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1316–1325. This manuscript presents the first results on abundance and distribution of white anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) from a series of groundfish surveys carried out on the Porcupine Bank. White anglerfish were caught in all trawlable areas, recruits and juveniles mainly from the shallower parts of the bank, around the central mound and closer to the Irish shelf. A strong cohort was manifest in 2001, and it could be tracked over time by age matrices obtained with illicia age–length keys (ALKs) collected during the surveys. However, a mismatch in the cohort analysis suggests that the growth pattern based on illicia underestimates around three of the younger age classes. Using an ALK estimated numerically from a faster growth model, this mismatch disappears, which seems to confirm faster growth. Recruits of the 0-group and adults of age 4 (with the faster growth: ca. ∼57–65 cm) dominated, whereas the intermediate age groups were scarce on the bank. These results and recent findings from tag-and-recapture experiments suggest that white anglerfish move to and from the Porcupine Bank, calling into question the stock boundaries currently accepted for the species in the North Atlantic. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Laurenson, C. H., Dobby, H., McLay, H. A., and Leslie, B. 2008. Biological features of the Lophius piscatorius catch in Scottish waters. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1281–1290. Here, data on 50 265 Lophius piscatorius sampled between 1998 and 2006 on board commercial fishing vessels during observer trips and chartered surveys at Shetland, west of Scotland, and Rockall are analysed. In each area, length differed significantly with depth (p < 0.001), there was an increase in modal size with increasing depth down to 450 m, and large fish dominated hauls in deeper water. The sex ratio of all data combined was 0.88 females:1 male, but it varied by area, depth, and season, with males greatly outnumbering females in deep water west of Scotland during the first quarter of the year. The proportion at length that were female differed significantly with depth, and the highest proportions of mature fish were in deep water at Rockall and west of Scotland. L50% maturities, for all data combined, were 102.4 cm for females and 58.3 cm for males. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Richards, R. A., Nitschke, P. C., and Sosebee, K. A. 2008. Population biology of monkfish Lophius americanus. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1291–1305. This paper provides an overview of the biology of monkfish in US waters of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean using data from resource surveys spanning the period 1948–2007. Monkfish exhibited seasonal onshore–offshore shifts in distribution, migrated out of the southern Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) in mid-spring, and re-appeared there in autumn. Sex ratios at length for fish 40–65-cm long were skewed towards males in the southern MAB, but approximated unity elsewhere, suggesting that a portion of the population resides outside sampled areas. Growth was linear at 9.9 cm year−1 and did not differ by region or sex. Maximum observed size was 138 cm for females and 85 cm for males. Length at 50% maturity for males was 35.6 cm (4.1 years old) in the north and 37.9 cm (4.3 years old) in the south; for females 38.8 cm (4.6 years old) in the north and 43.8 cm (4.9 years old) in the south. Ripe females were found in shallow (<50 m) and deep (>200 m) water in the south, and in shallow water (<50 m) in the north. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Azevedo, M., Duarte, R., Cardador, F., Sousa, P., Fariña, C., Sampedro, P., Landa, J., and Costas, G. 2008. Application of dynamic factor analysis in the assessment of Iberian anglerfish stocks. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1362–1369. Dynamic factor analysis (DFA) was applied to six time-series of catch per unit effort data of the Iberian (ICES Divisions VIIIc and IXa) white anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) and black anglerfish (L. budegassa). Results showed that grouping the abundance indices reflected the fleet's area of exploitation and fish size selection. Two common trends (CTs) were extracted for each species, capturing the main signal of abundance over time. The white anglerfish was assessed using these CTs as input to the biomass dynamic model currently used in the ICES assessment, to investigate whether the approach would reduce the uncertainty in parameter estimates and related quantities. Using the CTs, bias estimates are lower. The current perception of an overexploited stock is unchanged, but a much lower intrinsic rate of biomass increase was estimated, indicating that the biomass recovery might be much slower. A lower maximum sustainable yield, ∼3600 t, was obtained, and this is more consistent with the historical landings trajectory. The application of DFA to stock assessment of anglerfish, presented here for the first time, can be extended to age-based assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Laurenson, C. H., Dobby, H., and McLay, H. A. 2008. The Lophius budegassa component of monkfish catches in Scottish waters. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1346–1349. To date, research efforts on Lophius species in waters around Scotland (ICES Divisions IVa, VIa, and VIb) have focused almost exclusively on Lophius piscatorius. Here, the characteristics and distribution of the Lophius budegassa component of the catch are described using data collected by observers during commercial fishing trips and scientific surveys on chartered commercial fishing vessels between 1998 and 2006. At Rockall Bank (VIb), L. budegassa were rare, just 0.1% of the catch of Lophius spp., whereas west of Scotland (VIa) and around the Shetland Islands (IVa), they made up 18 and 2% of catches, respectively, with greatest prevalence towards the shelf edge. Fish length ranged from 16 to 89 cm with a modal length at 40 cm. Greater proportions of large individuals were recorded around the Shetland Islands than in other parts of the study area. Overall, the sex ratio was 1:1, and lengths at 50% maturity were estimated to be 70.4 cm for females and 49.4 cm for males. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Díaz, P., Santos, J., Velasco, F., Serrano, A., and Pérez, N. 2008. Anglerfish discard estimates and patterns in Spanish Northeast Atlantic trawl fisheries. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1350–1361. Estimates of Spanish bottom trawl discards of anglerfish Lophius budegassa and Lophius piscatorius in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean are presented. Both species are commercially valuable in ICES Subareas VI and VII, and Divisions VIIIc and IXa. Information was obtained from observers on board during discard-monitoring programmes. Raising by effort, rather than by landings and target species, was used to determine the total annual discards by weight and number, the discard percentage, and the discard length distribution by stock throughout the dataseries. By weight and number, discards varied interannually, ranging from 4 to 600 t (∼28 000–7 000 000 fish) in northern stocks of anglerfish, and from 1 to 100 t (∼20 000–400 000 fish) in southern stocks. The discard percentage for both species and northern and southern stocks therefore ranged between 2 and 76% by number. Length distributions of the discarded anglerfish show that most were juveniles, although the pattern differed in years with high or with low rates of discarding. The number of juveniles caught apparently increased in most areas after 2000. Correlations between the quantities discarded and recruitment indices from French and Irish trawl surveys were found for northern stocks and with Spanish trawl survey indices for southern stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Landa, J., Duarte, R., and Quincoces, I. 2008. Growth of white anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) tagged in the Northeast Atlantic, and a review of age studies on anglerfish. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 72–80.Growth of white anglerfish was estimated from the results of a tagging study in south European waters. In all, 1326 fish, caught by bottom trawl and gillnet commercial vessels and on trawl surveys, were tagged from 1995 to 2004; 50 were recovered, and a growth rate of 13.6 cm year−1 was estimated from the four fish at liberty long enough to allow extrapolation of the growth rate to an annual period. Growth patterns were reviewed based on available studies of growth verification of white anglerfish in Atlantic waters, including another tag-recapture study, length-frequency of catches, and microstructure analysis of hard parts. The growth rate estimated from these studies showed many similarities, and an overall growth pattern was estimated: growth rate = 18.24e–0.015length. A von Bertalanffy growth curve fitted to all data yielded the parameter values L∞ = 140 cm and k = 0.11. This growth rate is faster than estimated recently using illicia for age estimation, but similar to that found in the first studies that used illicia and sectioned otoliths. Current estimates of growth based on illicia, which are used in assessing the northern European stock of white anglerfish, seem to be underestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reid, D. G., Allen, V. J., Bova, D. J., Jones, E. G., Kynoch, R. J., Peach, K. J., Fernandes, P. G., and Turrell, W. R. 2007. Anglerfish catchability for swept-area abundance estimates in a new survey trawl. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 1503–1511.In 2005, a new trawl survey was launched in Scotland to estimate anglerfish (Lophius spp.) abundance using swept-area estimates. This required an understanding of the herding of the fish by the gear, particularly in the zone between the doors and wing ends. TV observations at the wing ends and along the sweeps were used to quantify the behavioural reactions of anglerfish. These observations were analysed to develop a gear efficiency estimate. This paper details the construction of the net and the procedures for data collection on the survey. In all, 54 reliable observations of anglerfish were recorded at the groundgear, the wing ends, and along the sweep/bridle combination. Detailed analysis of the recordings showed that all fish in the path of the net were captured, whereas more than half of the fish between the wings and the doors were not. The fish did not appear to herd and many of the encounters with the wires were passive. An individual-based particle-tracking model was constructed to use the behavioural observations to simulate the capture process and generate an efficiency factor. The calculated efficiency factor, based on the behavioural observations, was 1.04, indicating that almost all fish encountering the sweeps and bridles were lost. The implications and suggestions for development of this work are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Although the anglerfish Lophius piscatorius is now a species of major commercial importance, our understanding of its basic biology is far from complete. Here, the early life history of L. piscatorius is investigated by otolith daily increment analysis, the application of a particle tracking model and an examination of the geographical distribution of pelagic and demersal anglerfish. Otolith incremental analysis indicates that the pelagic phase is relatively long (ca. 120 days) and growth during the first year of life is rapid. A particle tracking model predicts that pelagic post larvae of known age caught west of the Outer Hebrides could originate from the shelf edge west of Ireland, the Rockall Plateau and the northern perimeter of the North Sea, whereas those caught in the northern North Sea are likely to originate from the western edge of the Norwegian Deep and the shelf edge west and north of Scotland. The model also predicts that a large proportion of the young anglerfish originating from a spawning area located west of the Outer Hebrides will enter the North Sea and that although most of the spawning products originating at Rockall will recruit to the Rockall Plateau some may be transported northwest and some to the northern perimeter of the North Sea. The distribution of the demersal stages suggests that L. piscatorius spawns in deep water, the transition from the pelagic to the demersal phase takes place in relatively shallow water and most recruits enter the North Sea from the north and west. The finding that some juveniles may settle on the seabed hundreds of kilometres from the spawning grounds has major implications for the effective management of the fishery. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]