Animal Species:Gelatinous Blindfish, Aphyonus gelatinosus Günther, 1878

Identification

The Gelatinous Blindfish has a white jelly-like body. The dorsal and anal fins are continuous with the caudal fin. Like all aphyonids, the Gelatinous Blindfish has tiny eyes. It lacks scales, swim bladder and pyloric caecae.

Size range

The species grows to 15 cm in length.

Distribution

The Gelatinous Blindfish occurs in most tropical and subtropical regions of oceans. In Australia it is known from off northern Queensland to off central New South Wales.

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 by collection data

Ozcam map of Gelatinous Blindfish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The Gelatinous Blindfish is a benthic species that occurs at depths from 900 m to over 5000 m.

Classification

Species:

gelatinosus

Genus:

Aphyonus

Family:

Aphyonidae

Order:

Ophidiiformes

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

1. Nielsen, J.G. 1969. Systematics and biology of the Aphyonidae (Pisces, Ophidioidea). Galathea Report. 10: 7-90, Pls. 1-4.
2. Nielsen, J.G., Cohen, D.M., Markle, D.F. & Robins, C.R. 1999. Ophidiiform fishes of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop., (125), Vol. 18 pp. 1-178.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 4 August 2012

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Gelatinous Blindfish, Aphyonus gelatinosus, Aphyonidae, NORFANZ, deepsea, marine, jelly-like body, white, tiny eyes, 10 cm - 30 cm, tropical water, subtropical water, benthic,