Bathyaploactis


Bathyaploactis is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, velvetfish belonging to the family Aploactinidae. The genus is endemic to the waters around Australia.

Taxonomy

Bathyaploactis was first described as a genus in 1933 by the Australian ichthyologist Gilbert Percy Whitley when he described Bathyaploactis curtisensis, with two subspecies B.c. curtisensis and B.c ornatissima, which are now considered to be valid species. The of this new species was given as off Gatcombe Head, Port Curtis in Queensland. The genus Bathyaploactis is classified within the family Aploactinidae in the suborder Scorpaenoidei within the order Scorpaeniformes, although this family is also treated as a subfamily of the stonefish family Synanceiidae within the Scorpaenoidei, which in turn is treated as a superfamily within the order Perciformes. The name of the genus, Bathyaploactis prefixes the name of the closely related genus Aploactis with bathy meaning "deep". Whitley did not explain this but it is thought that he was referring to this taxon being found in deeper water than Aploactis.

Species

There are currently two recognized species in this genus:Bathyaploactis curtisensis Gilbert [Percy Whitley|Whitley], 1933 Bathyaploactis ornatissima Whitley, 1933

Distribution

Bathyaploactis velvetfishes are found along the northern coasts of Australia.