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Sexual Dimorphism

A species from Chaunacidae, Chaunacops melanostomus, exhibits a single trait showing sexual dimorphism. Sample collection shows that males tend to have larger nostrils than females, and even in the smallest males, nostrils tend to be very apparent (Ho article).

Distribution

We currently know of 3 species of Chaunocops that live in the Indo-west Pacific Ocean, which are C. coloratus, C. melanostomus and C. spinosus (Ho article). However, members of the Chaunacidae family have been collected from the Eastern Indian Ocean, the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and the Western Atlantic Ocean, showing that this family is relatively widely distributed. Namely, in 1989 a study was done by John H. Caruso in which 21 specimens of Chaunacid fish were collected off the western coast of Australia, many of which were collected at approximately -30° latitude, and approximately 90° longitude. These specimen were from the genus Bathychaunax, which before this study only contained 2 other species: B. coloratus of the Eastern Pacific, and B. roseus from the Western Atlantic. The new species of Bathychaunax was found at depths between 1320m and 1760 m (Caruso article). Furthermore, in 2015 an article was published indicating that new specemins from the genus Chaunacops were found off the coasts of Australia and New Caledonia (Ho article).

Anatomy

Chaunocops spinosis (Ho article)

Upon collection and examination of this species, it is observed to have several distinct physical attributes. One trait is the fine dermal spinules, along with simple and bifurcate dermal spinules, covering the body. It also has four pectoral lateral-line neuromasts, which are sensory organs characteristic to fish and aquatic organisms. It has a greyish mouth, and semi-transparent, light-greyish skin. Inside the mouth are several rows of teeth. There are three or four rows of small canine teeth on the upper jaw, and three rows of the same on the lower jaw. The skin of the head, belly, and most of gill chamber is dark blue, and it has a relatively short tail. As for the overall body structure, body is resemblant of a tadople, with a more globular shape in the anterior which tapers in the posterior. The eyes are covered by transparent skin and are very small.

Chaunacops melanostomus (Ho article)

Another species in the same genus was collected with similar traits to the above species, but some noticable differences. The spinules are distributed widely throughout the body, similar to C. spinosis, but are simple with a large base (different from that of C. spinosis which has simple as well as bifurcate dermal spindles). They also differ slightly in color. The inside of the mouth, the head, the gill chamber, and the anterior portion of the body are dark brown to black. The dorsal side of the body, and the caudal fin are light brown, and becomes more lightly colored going towards the posterior end. Also, instead of having three or four rows of teeth, C. melanostomus has two rows on both jaws. The general body plan, however, is virtually the same, resembling a tadpole, with a more globular shape in the anterior which tapers in the posterior.