Euclichthyidae Cohen, 1984

Last, Peter R. & Pogonoski, John J., 2020, Revision of the fish family Euclichthyidae (Pisces: Gadiformes) with the description of two new species from the Western Pacific, Zootaxa 4758 (2), pp. 231-256 : 233

Family Euclichthyidae Cohen, 1984

Type genus. Euclichthys McCulloch, 1926 (inferred from stem).

Definition. A family of medium-sized gadiform fishes (reported to reach 335 mm SL) unique in having a pelvic fin comprised of 6 long, filiform rays with three uppermost rays united for about a third of their length, greatly elevated lobe-like portion of anal fin, reduced asymmetrical caudal fin, and lacking an otophysic connection.

The family is further distinguished from other families of the order in the following combination of character states: body elongate, compressed and tapering; head compressed, length 18–22% SL; mouth large, terminal or subterminal; chin barbel absent; vomerine and palatine tooth patches absent; gill openings extending dorsally above pectoral fins; cranial muscle adductor arcus palatini divided by a strong ligament running from lateral ethmoid and palatine to medial face of hyomandibular; lateral line indistinct, on side of body; scales deciduous, rounded and overlapping; dorsal fins almost contiguous; first dorsal fin short-based and high with one short spinous ray and 11–15 soft rays, originating above rear of head; second dorsal fin with 67–88 soft rays, long-based and almost reaching base of caudal fin; anal fin deeply notched, with one short spinous ray and 78–102 rays; anterior part of anal fin shorter than longest ray of first dorsal fin, posterior part of fin much shorter, increasing in height posteriorly and ending near caudal fin; base of last anal-fin ray slightly anterior to base of last dorsal-fin ray; caudal fin separate, with 30–45 elements, 5 hypurals fused into two plates; pelvic fin jugular, origins slightly forward of preoperculum; pectoral fins positioned low on body, with 19–23 elements; body pale with ventral head and abdomen variably demarcated with dark luminous organ ( Okamura 1989: 138, fig. 5); fins largely translucent, with or without dark margins.

Distribution. Benthopelagic in seas off southern, eastern and western Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand on the upper continental slopes at depths of 220–1040 m off Australia’s Indian Ocean coast, occurs north- ward to the Rowley Shoals, Western Australia (17°31’S, 118°50’E); in the South-west Pacific, occurs northward to east of Dunk Island, Queensland (17°59’S, 147°00’E). In New Zealand, north of the Subtropical Convergence off the North Island (34°03’S, 172°12’E) to the South Island off the east coast (43°40’S, 175°33’W) and off the west coast (42°04’S, 170°35’E), including the Chatham Rise. New Caledonian material was collected from a seamount (24°55’S, 168°21’E) along the northern sector of the Norfolk Ridge.