Crested Bandfish, Lophotus guntheri Johnston, 1883

Scientific name: Lophotus guntheri
Alternative name/s:
Crestfish, Unicorn Fish, Unicorn Ribbon-fish
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    15/02/19
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Crested Bandfish , Lophotus lacepede Click to enlarge image
A Crested Bandfish purchased from Nicholas Seafood by B. Yau, September 2005 (AMS I.43718-001). The fish was caught by M. Cameron on FV Tasman Explorer at a depth of 1000 m, off Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. The two wounds were probably caused by a Cookie-cutter Shark. Image: Mark McGrouther
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Lophotus
    Species
    guntheri
    Family
    Lophotidae
    Order
    Lampridiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to around 2 m in length.

Introduction

The Crested Bandfish has a long, silvery, ribbon-like body that can grow to 2 m in length. Little is known of its biology.

Identification

The Crested Bandfish can be recognised by its long ribbon-like body and large eyes. It has a long-based, red dorsal fin with elongate leading rays and a short anal fin positioned just anterior to the caudal fin.

Work needs to be done on the family. The identification of the species that occurs in the south Pacific has been called into question on several occasions. It has been called Lophotus lacepede in the past. A third species, L. capellei does not occur in Australian waters.

Only two species in the family Lophotidae are currently considered to be valid in Australia; Lophotus guntheri and Eumecichthys fiski, the Unicornfish.

Crested Bandfish , Lophotus lacepede
Crested Bandfish , Lophotus lacepede
Crested Bandfish , Lophotus lacepede

Habitat

The species most likely lives in deep waters.

Distribution

The Crested Bandfish occurs in all oceans. In Australia it has been recorded from scattered locations off New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Feeding and diet

The diet consists of squid and small fishes.

Other behaviours and adaptations

Little is known of the biology of the Crested Bandfish. It has an internal ink sac that stores a dark, inky liquid which may be used as a defense mechanism against predators.

References

  1. Craig, M.T. & P.A. Hastings. 2004. Notes on the Systematics of the Crested Genus Lophotus (Lampridiformes: Lophotidae), with a New Record from California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Science. 103(2): 57-65.
  2. Glover, J.C.M. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, J.C.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  4. Olney, J.E. in Paxton, J.R. & W.N. Eschmeyer (Eds). 1994. Encyclopedia of Fishes. Sydney: New South Wales University Press; San Diego: Academic Press. Pp. 240.
  5. Olney, J.E. 1999. Lophotidae. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 3. Batoid fishes, chimaeras and bony fishes part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae). FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-vi, 1398-2068.