Neocyematidae Explained

Neocyematidae is a family of fishes in the order Saccopharyngiforms.^[1] This family, established from five described adult specimens of the species Neocyema erythrosoma, was originally thought to be a part of the family Cyematidae, until genomic sequencing in 2018 refuted this relationship.^[2]

Description

Neocyema is known for its vivid orange color and paedomorphic life cycle.^[3] One distinguishing feature of this group are the semi-extended jaws, which separate it from Cyematidae. The eyes of the adult form are reduced during the transition from larvae to adulthood, indicating a likelihood of blindness. The larval stage displays no black colorings, in contrast to the larval stages of other saccopharyngiformes, and look similar to the orders of Eupharynx and Saccopharynx, whereas the adult stage more resembles Cyema.

Distribution

Neocyema erythrosoma has currently only been observed in the North and South Atlantic Ocean, but its larvae have been discovered in the Sargasso Sea.

Notes and References

1. Web site: WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Neocyematidae Poulsen, Miller, Sado, Hanel, Tsukamoto & Miya, 2018 . 2022-12-04 . www.marinespecies.org . en.
2. Poulsen. Jan Y.. Miller. Michael J.. Sado. Tetsuya. Hanel. Reinhold. Tsukamoto. Katsumi. Miya. Masaki. 2018-07-25. Resolving deep-sea pelagic saccopharyngiform eel mysteries: Identification of Neocyema and Monognathidae leptocephali and establishment of a new fish family "Neocyematidae" based on larvae, adults and mitogenomic gene orders. PLOS ONE. 13. 7. e0199982. 10.1371/journal.pone.0199982. 1932-6203. 6059418. 30044814. 2018PLoSO..1399982P. free.
3. DeVaney. Shannon C.. Hartel. Karsten E.. Themelis. Daphne E.. September 2009. The First Records of Neocyema (Teleostei: Saccopharyngiformes) in the Western North Atlantic with Comments on Its Relationship to Leptocephalus holti Schmidt 1909. Northeastern Naturalist. 16. 3. 409–414. 10.1656/045.016.n308. 84115524. 1092-6194.