Monacoa

Monacoa is a genus of fish in the family Opisthoproctidae found in Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.[1] They are also known as mirrorbellies, in reference to the bioluminescent organ in their intestines.[2]

Monacoa
Monacoa grimaldii
Scientific classification
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Monacoa

Whitley, 1943

Species

There are currently 3 recognized species in this genus:

  • Monacoa grimaldii (Zugmayer, 1911) (Mirrorbelly)
  • Monacoa griseus J. Y. Poulsen, Sado, C. Hahn, Byrkjedal, Moku & Miya, 2016 (Grey mirrorbelly) [1]
  • Monacoa niger J. Y. Poulsen, Sado, C. Hahn, Byrkjedal, Moku & Miya, 2016 (Black mirrorbelly) [1]


Until 2016, it was believed there was a single species of Monacoa, but in 2016 it was determined that they're actually 3 distinct species. The griseus and niger are distinct from the grimaldii because of their differences in pigmentation. An examination of their complete mitochondrial genomes further suggests the species are distinct.

References

  1. Poulsen, J.Y., Sado, T., Hahn, C., Byrkjedal, I., Moku, M. & Miya, M. (2016): Preservation Obscures Pelagic Deep-Sea Fish Diversity: Doubling the Number of Sole-Bearing Opisthoproctids and Resurrection of the Genus Monacoa (Opisthoproctidae, Argentiniformes). PLoS ONE, 11 (8): e0159762.
  2. Two new species of deep-sea fish may communicate with light shining from their bellies, by Robin Meadows, at PLOS RESEARCH NEWS; published August 10, 2016; retrieved April 13, 2017


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