Telescopefish are presumed to be solitary, active predators, frequenting the mesopelagic to bathypelagic zones of the water column, from 500 to 3,000 m. However, Gigantura chuni (at about 15.6 cm standard length) is slightly more robust in build. Gigantura indica is the larger of the two species at about 20.3 cm standard length (a measurement excluding the caudal fin). The loss of these structures is attributed to neoteny that is, the retention of larval characteristics. The pelvic fins and adipose fin are absent.Īlso absent are the premaxilla, orbitosphenoid, parietal, symplectic, posttemporal, and supratemporal bones, the gill rakers, and the branchiostegal rays. The anal fin (about 8–14 rays) and single dorsal fin (about 16–19 rays) are both situated far back of the head. The pectoral fins are large (about 30–42 rays), situated above the gill opening, and inserted horizontally. The transparent fins are spineless the deeply forked and hypocercal caudal fin is most striking, with the lower lobe extended to a length exceeding that of the body. The gas bladder is absent and the stomach is highly distensible. ![]() The body lacks scales, but is covered in easily abraded, silvery guanine, which imparts a greenish to purplish iridescence in life. The highly extensile mouth is lined with sharp, slightly recurved and depressible teeth and it extends well past the eyes. Their heads end in short, pointed snouts. The Giganturidae are slender, slightly tapered fish with large heads dominated by large, forward-pointing, telescoping eyes with large lenses. ![]() The currently recognized species in this genus are: ![]() The genus name Gigantura refers to the Gigantes, a race of giants in Greek mythology-coupled with the suffix oura, meaning 'tail', thus Gigantura refers to the greatly elongated, ribbon-like lower half of the tailfin that may comprise over half of the total body length. The common name of these fish is related to their bizarre, tubular eyes. Though rarely captured, they are found in cold, deep tropical to subtropical waters worldwide. The two known species are within the genus Gigantura. Telescopefish are small, deep-sea aulopiform fish comprising the small family Giganturidae.
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