Triacanthodinae


Triacanthodinae is a subfamily of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Triacanthodidae, the spikefishes. This subfamily comprises nine genera and a total of nineteen species and all, except one species, are found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. The exception is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.

Taxonomy

Triacanthodinae is the nominate subfamily of the family Triacanthodidae, a taxon name first proposed by the American biologist Theodore Gill in 1862. In 1968 the American ichthyologist James C. Tyler proposed that the family Triacanthodidae be split into two subfamilies, establishing the subfamily Hollardiinae for the genera Hollardia and Parahollardia. The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the family Triacanthodidae in the suborder Triacanthoidei along with the family Triacanthidae, the triplefins.

Etymology

Triacanthodinae is a name based on its type genus Triacanthodes. which appends -odes, meaning "is similar to", onto Triacanthus, a genus these fishes were thought to be clsoley related to.

Genera and species

Triacanthodinae contains the following genera and species:
Triacanthodinae spikefishes are distinguished from the taxa in the subfamily Hollardiinae by the possession of a low, thin crest on the front of the supraoccipital and in having a flat, horizontal basin-like projection to the plevic bone. The largest species in the subfamily is Halimochirurgus alcocki with a maximum published standard length of while the smallest is Atrophacanthus japonicus which has a maximum published standard length of.

Distribution and habitat

Triacanthodinae spikefishes are mainly found in the Indo-Pacific region, with one species Johnsonina eriomma in the Western Atlantic Ocean. These benthic fishes are found in deeper water.