Reassignment of Melodichthys paxtoni to the genus Fiordichthys (Teleostei, Bythitidae)

Nielsen J.G., Schwarzhans W., Møller P.R.

Published date: February 2004
Volume: 28
Number: 1
Pagination: 037-041
Publisher: Société Française d'Ichtyologie
doi: https://doi.org/10.26028/cybium/2004-281-005
Abstract

A comparison of the bythitids Fiordichthys slartibartfasti Paulin, 1995 and the two species of Melodichthys, paxtoni and hadrocephalus both Nielsen & Cohen (1986), clearly shows that M. paxtoni is much closer to F. slartibartfasti than to M. hadrocephalus. Consequently, M. paxtoni is reassigned to Fiordichthys. By examination of the copulatory organ it furthermore appeared that Fiordichthys belongs to the brosmophycine tribe Brosmophycini rather than to Dinematichthyini where it was originally referred.

Keywords: Bythitidae - Fiordichthys - Melodichthys - Taxonomy
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