Fishes of the suborder Ceratioidei (Pisces: Lophiiformes) in ...

Rit Fiskideildar 16 (1999) 197-207 

Fishes of the suborder Ceratioidei (Pisces: Lophiiformes) 

in Icelandic and adjacent waters 

Gunnar Jónsson and Jónbjörn Pálsson 

Marine Research Institute 

Skúlagata 4, P.O. Box 1390 

IS-121 Reykjavík, Iceland 

ABSTRACT 

Distribution in Icelandic waters is described for Caulophryne jordani (Caulophrynidae), 

Melanocetus johnsoni (Melanocetidae) , Himantolophus albinares, H. groenlandicus, H. mauli, 

H. melanophus (Himantolophidae), Chaenophryne draco, C. longiceps, Dolopichthys longicornis, 

Oneirodes anisacanthus, O. carlsbergi, O. eschrichtii, O. macrosteus, O. myrionemus 

(Oneirodidae), Ceratias holboelli, Cryptopsaras cousei (Ceratiidae), Gigantactis ios, G. vanhoeffeni 

(Gigantactinidae), Linophryne algibarbata, L. coronata and L. lucifer (Linophrynidae). 

In relative terms, H. groenlandicus, C. holboelli and C. cousei are considered “common”, H. 

mauli, C. draco, C. longiceps, O. eschrichtii and L. lucifer “relatively common”, but other species 

“rare”. 

Keywords: Ceratioid fish, Icelandic Waters, distribution. 

INTRODUCTION 

Seventy five years ago only three species of 

Ceratioid fish were known from Icelandic 

waters. The first species reported was Himantolophus 

groenlandicus, when one specimen was 

found in the harbour of Vestmannaeyjar off the 

south coast of Iceland in 1886 and another in 

1901 (Sæmundsson 1909). Ceratias holboelli 

was reported for the first time in 1914 off the 

western south coast (Selvogsbanki), and the first 

Cryptopsaras couesi was found in the harbour 

of Vestmannaeyjar in 1914 (Sæmundsson 1922). 

During the first half of this century, fishing 

vessels such as trawlers were operating in the relatively 

shallow waters of the Icelandic shelf. During 

this time, Ceratioid fish were rare findings. 

When trawlers began to operate in deeper 

waters, fishermen encountered these rare fishes 

in increasing numbers. Many fishermen are 

interested in knowing what species of fish they 

have found and therefore bring the specimen 

ashore for identification. Although fishermen 

probably do this mostly to satisfy their own 

curiosity they, naturally add to the knowledge of 

the distribution and biology of rare fish species 

occurring in the waters where they operate. 

Since 1967, a list of rare fishes, brought to 

the Marine Research Institute in Reykjavik, has 

been published annually in Ægir, a journal of the 

Fisheries Association of Iceland (Jónsson 1967- 

1975; Jónsson et al. 1976-1997). 

Dedicated to Professor Unnsteinn Stefánsson in honour of his contributions to oceonography and education. 

197

Figure 1. The names of fishing areas and other geographical locations 

mentioned in the text. 

MATERIAL AND METHODS 

This paper reports on the geographical distribution 

of known records of Ceratioid fish caught in the 

waters around Iceland, south to 60°N. The names 

of fishing areas and other geographical locations 

mentioned in the text are shown on Figure 1. 

Most of the specimens reported on were 

caught by commercial fishing vessels and sent 

to the Marine Research Institute (MRI) in Reykjavik 

for identification. Information on catching 

date and location are of varying precision. Only 

specimens accompanied by relatively precise 

information on fishing location, either the location 

of the relevant tow or the fishing ground 

where the vessel was operating, 

are included on the distribution 

maps (Figs. 2-8). Specimens 

positioned more vaguely, e.g. 

“off the south coast”, are 

counted in the total number 

recorded, but not shown on the 

distribution maps. 

Fishing grounds, referred to 

in the paper as the Víkuráll 

area, are located off the northern 

west coast of Iceland, 

approximately between 65°N 

and 66°N, from 28°W to 30°W. 

The depth is between 900 and 

1200 m and trawlers fish there 

for Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius 

hippoglossoides) with 

bottom trawl. 

Fishing grounds, referred to 

as the Reykjanes Ridge, are 

situated southwest of Iceland. In the more 

offshore part of this area, as well as in the 

Irminger Sea and the Iceland Basin, trawlers fish 

for redfish (Sebastes marinus and S. mentella) 

using midwater trawl (MWT) while bottom trawl 

is used in shallower waters. This commercial 

fishing gear has a mesh size of 135-145 mm. 

Records of Ceratioid fish from Icelandic 

waters, reported on in Annales Biologiques 

during 1953-1966 (German records of rare fish) 

as well as other published records cited in the 

text, are included in the distribution maps. 

If not otherwise stated, all measurements 

given represent total length. 

Figure 2. Records of Caulophryne jordani and Melanocetus johnsoni in Icelandic waters. Depth contours are 

drawn for the 500 and 1000 m isobaths. 

198

Figure 3. Records of Himantolophus albinares, H. groenlandicus, H. mauli and H. melanophus in Icelandic 

waters. Dots may indicate more than one record. Depth contours are drawn for the 500 and 1000 m isobaths. 

RESULTS 

CAULOPHRYNIDAE 

Caulophryne jordani Goode and Bean, 1896 

Five specimens have been recorded at the MRI, 

the first in June 1990. Three of the fish were caught 

with bottom trawl in the Víkuráll area at a depth 

of 900-1100 m, but the other two with midwater 

trawl operated at a depth of 600-700 m on the 

Reykjanes Ridge (Fig. 2). The length of the specimens 

ranged from 13.5 to 21.5 cm, with an 

average of 17.8 cm. The first record was originally 

reported by Oddsson (1991) as C. polynema, but 

on closer examination was found to be C. jordani. 

MELANOCETIDAE 

Melanocetus johnsoni Guenther, 1864 

In May 1996, one 17 cm specimen was caught 

with midwater trawl operated at a depth of 730- 

750 m in the NW Irminger Sea (62°50’N, 

30°35’W; Fig. 2) (Jónsson et al. 1997). 

HIMANTOLOPHIDAE 

Himantolophus albinares Maul, 1961 

Four specimens have been recorded, one caught 

with bottom trawl at 620-700 m depth on the 

Reykjanes Ridge (62°40’N, 24°54’W) and three 

with bottom trawl in the Víkuráll area at a depth 

of 900-1100 m (Fig. 3). The length of these fish 

was 20-25 cm with an average of 22 cm. 

Himantolophus groenlandicus Reinhardt, 1837 

A total of 91 specimens have been recorded at the 

MRI. The distribution ranged from the Víkuráll 

area south to and west of the Reykjanes Ridge and 

from there east along the south coast of Iceland to 

the Iceland-Faroe Ridge (Fig. 3). The size of these 

fish ranged from 9-56 cm with average of 36 cm. 

199

Figure 4. Records of Chaenophryne draco, C. 

longiceps and Dolopichthys longicornis in 

Icelandic waters. Dots may indicate more than 

one record. Depth contours are drawn for the 

500 and 1000 m isobaths. 

Himantolophus mauli Bertelsen and Krefft, 1988 

Eleven specimens have been recorded. The first 

was caught in May 1991 in MWT operated at a 

depth of 360-440 m in the Reykjanes Ridge area 

(62°42’N, 30°08’W). Further 8 specimens were 

caugth by MWT on and west of the Reykjanes 

Ridge, while two were caught in the Víkuráll area 

with bottom trawl (Fig. 3). The size of the fish ranged 

from 16 to 28 cm with an average of 22.6 cm. 

Himantolophus melanophus Bertelsen and Krefft, 

1988 (see Fig. 9) 

One specimen has been recorded. This was a 19 

cm fish caught in bottom trawl in July 1995 in 

the Víkuráll area (Fig. 3). 

ONEIRODIDAE 

Chaenophryne draco Beebe, 1932 (see Fig. 10) 

The first specimen, a 13 cm fish, was caught in 

bottom trawl in June 1990 in the Víkuráll area. 

A total of 14 fish have been recorded at the MRI 

from the Reykjanes Ridge to the NW Irminger 

Sea and the Víkuráll areas as well as one specimen 

from the Iceland-Faroe Ridge (Fig. 4). The 

length of the fishes ranged from 9 to 15 cm, the 

average size being 12.3 cm. 

Chaenophryne longiceps Regan, 1925 

A total of 32 specimens have been recorded at 

the MRI. The first was captured in 1973 off the 

west coast (Bertelsen and Pietsch 1977). 

However, most of the fish have been caught with 

bottom trawl in the Víkuráll area, some with 

MWT on the Reykjanes Ridge and in the NW 

Irminger Sea, while one specimen was caught off 

the southeast coast of Iceland (Fig. 4). One specimen 

was caught off the north coast, but it is 

highly uncommon to find Ceratoids in that area. 

The length range of the fish was 11-29 cm with 

a average of 17.8 cm. 

Dolopichthys longicornis Parr, 1927 

One specimen has been recorded. This was a 

12.6 cm fish caught with bottom trawl in July 

200

1995 in position 65°38’N, 28°00’W at a depth 

of 1060-1190 m (Fig. 4). 

Oneirodes anisacanthus (Regan, 1925) 

One specimen was recorded by Bertelsen and 

Pietsch (1977). The fish was caught in 1973 in 

position 65°N, 29°W (Víkuráll, Fig. 5). The 

length of the specimen was 9.8 cm standard 

length (SL). 

Oneirodes carlsbergi (Regan and Trewavas, 

1932) 

One specimen of 15 cm was caught in October 

1985 with shrimp trawl on Strædebank (66°N, 

29°W) (Fig. 5). 

Oneirodes eschrichtii Luetken, 1871 

There are 15 records of this species at the MRI, 

most of the fish being caught with bottom trawl 

in the Víkuráll area (Fig. 5). However, the first 

Figure 5. Records of Oneirodes anisacanthus, 

O. carlsbergi, O. eschrichtii, O. macrosteus 

and O. myrionemus in Icelandic waters. Depth 

contours are drawn for the 500 and 1000 m 

isobaths. 

201

Figure 6. Records of Ceratias holboelli and Cryptopsaras couesi in Icelandic waters. Dots may indicate more 

than one record. Depth contours are drawn for the 500 and 1000 m isobaths. 

four specimens on record were caught with 

shrimp trawl on the Strædebank (66°N, 29°W), 

north of Víkuráll, in 1985 and one specimen 

has been taken in a MWT in the NW Irminger 

Sea. Bertelsen (1986) reported this species 

from west of Iceland, approximately in the 

Strædebank area. The length of the specimens 

ranged from 7 to 20 cm, the average being 15 

cm. 

Oneirodes macrosteus Pietsch, 1974 


Pietsch (1977), caught in 1973 near Víkuráll at 

65°N, 29°W (Fig. 5). The length of the fish was 

18.2 cm SL. 

Oneirodes myrionemus Pietsch, 1974 


Pietsch (1977), caught in 1973 west of Iceland at 

65°N, 28°W (Fig. 5). The length of the fish was 

7.6 cm SL. 

CERATIIDAE 

Ceratias holboelli Kroeyer, 1845 

There are 94 records of C. holboelli from 

Icelandic waters, the first from the relatively 

shallow waters of Selvogsbanki off the western 

south coast of Iceland in 1914. The records are 

distributed from the Reykjanes Ridge north to the 

Víkuráll area, i.e. southwest and west of Iceland. 

Figure 7. Records of Gigantactis ios and G. vanhoeffeni in Icelandic waters. Depth contours are drawn for 

the 500 and 1000 m isobaths. 

202

Figure 8. Records of Linophryne algibarbata, 

L. coronata and L. lucifer in Icelandic waters. 

Depth contours are drawn for the 500 and 

1000 m isobaths. 

This species has also been recorded off the entire 

south coast, east to the Iceland-Faroe Ridge (Fig. 

6), some from relatively shallow waters. There is 

a single record from deep waters north of Iceland. 

The length ranged from 9 to 125 cm, with an average 

of 70.7 cm. C holboelli is the largest of the 

Ceratioids in Icelandic waters and the only species 

to reach a total length of more than 100 cm. Of 

74 measured specimens, 12 exceeded 100 cm. 

Cryptopsaras couesi Gill, 1883 

A total of 96 specimens have been recorded from 

Icelandic waters, the first record being from 1914 

when one fish was found stranded on a beach in 

the harbour of Vestmannaeyjar just off the south 

coast of Iceland. Otherwise, the distribution of 

records of C. couesi (Fig. 6) ranges from the Reykjanes 

Ridge north to the Víkuráll area as well as 

eastwards along the south coast to the Iceland- 

Faroe Ridge. Furthermore, one fish has been 

recorded from north of Iceland. The length distribution 

is in the range of 9 to 57 cm, with an average 

of 31.2 cm. 

GIGANTACTINIDAE 

Gigantactis ios Bertelsen, Pietsch & Lavenberg, 

1981 (see Fig. 11) 

One specimen was caught in July 1995 with 

bottom trawl in the Víkuráll area (65°24’N, 

28°54’W) at a depth of 1000-1200 m (Fig. 7). 

Excluding the illicium, the length of this fish was 

41 cm. 

Gigantactis vanhoeffeni Brauer, 1902 

Ten specimens have been recorded at the MRI from 

the Víkuráll area. An additional record from deep 

waters in the Irminger Sea has previously been 

published (Bertelsen et al. 1981) (Fig. 7). The 

length of the specimens, excluding the illicium, 

was from 27.5 to 49 cm. 

LINOPHRYNIDAE 

Linophryne algibarbata Waterman, 1922 

Two specimens have been recorded. The first, 

caught in May 1983 off the north coast of Iceland, 

203

Figure 9. Himantolophus melanophus (Drawing by Jón Baldur Hlíðberg). 

was 22 cm long with a 3 cm male attached. The 

second, 21 cm long, was caught in bottom trawl in 

position 63°50’N, 28°17’W at a depth of 1400- 

1500 m in May 1992 (Fig. 8). Bertelsen (1980) 

reported 6 specimens from the western North- 

Atlantic between 32°08’N and 52°50’N, west of 

31°45’W. 

Linophryne coronata Parr, 

1927 

Seven specimens have been 

recorded at the MRI, four of 

them from the Víkuráll area 

but the others from off the 

southwest, south and southeast 

coasts (Fig. 8). The first 

specimen on record was 22 

cm SL. This fish was caught 

in April 1969 at 90 m depth 

close to the south coast 

(Bertelsen 1982). Otherwise, 

the size of the recorded specimens 

ranges from 18 to 30 

cm with an average of 25.7 

cm. 

Linophryne lucifer Collett, 

1886 

A total of 23 specimens have 

been recorded at the MRI, most of them caught 

near the edge of the shelf from near the Reykjanes 

Ridge north to the Víkuráll area (Fig. 8). The first 

specimen was, however, caught off the southeast 

coast of Iceland (63°20’N, 11°30’W) in June 1958 

(Brandes and Kotthaus 1960). The fishes range in 

lengt from 14 to 40 cm, with an average of 22.1 cm. 

Figure 10. Chaenophryne draco (Drawing by Jón Baldur Hlíðberg). 

DISCUSSION 

Because the available information is 

mostly based on specimens caught by 

fishing vessels, the knowledge of 

distribution is, to a large extent, limited 

to commercial fishing grounds. 

Records of Ceratioid fish are restricted 

to the waters south and west of 

Iceland. Although there are extensive 

fishing grounds off the north- and 

northeast-coast, we find only four 

records of an equal number of species 

of Ceratoids from that area. This 

would indicate that the distribution of 

Ceratioid fish is limited to the warm 

Atlantic waters and that these fish do 

not, as a rule, enter the colder and 

more Arctic waters north and east of 

Iceland. Thus, the general distribution 

is a reflection of the location of warm 

204

Figure 11. Gigantactis ios (Drawing by Jón Baldur Hlíðberg). 

Atlantic watermasses off the coast of Iceland ( 

Stefánsson 1962). 

Three of the Ceratioid species, H. groenlandicus, 

C. holboelli and C. couesi, are by far the most 

common. These are also the species which were 

first found in Icelandic waters. The fact that their 

distribution seems almost identical, probably reflects 

the distribution of fishing effort off the south 

and west coasts. 

If, in relative terms, H. groenlandicus, C. holboelli 

and C. couesi are considered “common”, 

species such as H. mauli, C. draco, C. longiceps, 

O. eschrichtii and L. lucifer could be termed “relatively 

common”. Other species would be termed 

“rare”, and for eight of these there is only one 

record in the area. 

The specimens of Linophryne, which have been 

caught in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland, East 

Greenland and Iceland, are among the largest Linophryne 

specimens on record (Bertelsen 1982). 

Bertelsen (1976, 1982) suggested that the 

extremely large specimens of Linophryne and 

some other Ceratioid genera, caught in the North 

Atlantic, might be expatriates. 

However, considering the number of records of 

those species judged here as common or relatively 

common, it seems more likely that they are at or 

near the northern limit of their distribution rather 

than being expatriates. A comparatively slow rate of 

growth, likely at the northenmost distribution 

boundary, would probably result in higher terminal 

age and size. Since small specimens are more likely 

to be selected out through a trawl mesh, the size of 

the specimens from Icelandic waters is probably also 

affected by the large mesh size of the commercial 

fishing gear used in these waters. Furthermore, the 

smallest metamorphosed females of both C. 

holboelli and C. couesi, recorded from this commercial 

fishing gear, is 9 cm and indicates the presence 

of relatively young individuals in the Icelandic area. 

Of the Himantolophus species, only H. groenlandicus 

has a number of records in the North Atlantic, 

north of 60˚N (Bertelsen and Krefft 1988). 

For H. albinares, H. mauli and H. melanophus, the 

records presented here are the first in the Atlantic, 

north of 60°N. Gigantactis vanhoeffeni is known 

from various records in the northeastern North- 

Atlantic (Bertelsen 1986). Hovewer, the only 

previous record of G. ios from North-Atlantic 

waters is from off Madeira (Swinney 1995). 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

Thanks are due to Mr. Höskuldur Björnsson for 

valuable help in producing the distribution maps, 

to Mr. Jón Baldur Hlíðberg for drawings of fish 

specimens and to Dr. Hjálmar Vilhjálmsson for 

valuable comments and suggestions on the manuscript. 

Special thanks to all those fishermen who 

sent us specimens for identification. 

205

LITERATURE 

Bertelsen, E. 1976. Records of parasitic males in three 

species of Linophryne (Pisces, Ceratoidea). Steenstrupia. 

4(2): 7-18. 

Bertelsen, E. 1980. Notes on Lynophrynidae VI. A new 

species of deepsea anglerfish of the genus Lynophryne 

with notes on other Lynophryne species with 

multi-stemmed barbels (Pisces, Ceratioidei). Steenstrupia. 

6(15): 233-249. 

Bertelsen, E. 1982. Notes on Lynophrynidae VIII. A 

review of the genus Lynophryne, with new records 

and description of two new species. Steenstrupia. 

8(3): 49-104. 

Bertelsen, E. 1986. Gigantactinidae. In P.J.P. Whitehead, 

M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and 

E. Tortonese (Eds). Fishes of the North-eastern 

Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Vol. 3: 1406-1407. 

Unesco. Paris. 

Bertelsen, E. and G. Krefft 1988. The ceratioid family 

Himantolophidae (Pisces, Lophiiformes). Steenstrupia 

14(2): 9-89. 

Bertelsen, E. and T.W. Pietsch 1977. Results of the 

research cruises of FRV “Walter Herwig” to South 

America XLVII. Ceratioid anglerfishes of the family 

Oneirodidae collected by the FRV “Walter Herwig”. 

Arch.Fisch Wiss. 27(3): 171-189. 

Bertelsen, E. , T.W. Pietsch and R.J. Lavenberg 1981. 

Ceratioid anglerfishes of the family Gigantactinidae. 

Morphology, systematics and distribution. 

Los Angeles Co. Mus. Nat. Hist. Contr. Sci. 332: i- 

vi and 1-74. 

Brandes, C.-H. and A. Kotthaus. 1960. Rare fish. B. 

Records of the Institute für Meeresforschung and the 

Abteilung Fischereibiologie der Biologischen Anstalt 

Helgoland, Bremerhaven. Ann.Biol. 15: 72. 

Jónsson, G. 1967. “Sjaldséðir fiskar” sem Fiskideild 

og Hafrannsóknastofnuninni hafa borist 1955-1966. 

(Rare fishes delivered to the Marine Research Institute 

during 1955-1966. In Icelandic). Ægir 60(2,3): 

31-34, 55-58. 

– 1967a. Sjaldséður fiskur veiðist við Grænland. (A 

rare fish caught off Greenland. In Icelandic). Ægir 

60(17): 316-317. 

– 1968. Sitthvað um sjaldgæfa fiska. (On rare fishes. 

In Icelandic). Náttúrufræðingurinn 37: 193-205. 

– 1969. Ný fisktegund veiðist við Ísland. (A new species 

caught off Iceland. In Icelandic). Ægir 62(7): 131. 

– 1969. Sjaldséðir fiskar 1968. (Rare fishes in 1968. 

In Icelandic). Ægir 62, 11: 216-217. 

– 1970. Sjaldgæfir fiskar. (Rare fishes. In Icelandic). 

Ægir 63, 4: 66-68. 

– 1971. Sjaldséðir fiskar árið 1970. (Rare fishes in 

1970. In Icelandic). Ægir 64, 3: 40-42. 









– 1994. Nokkrar nýjar fisktegundir á Íslandsmiðum. 

(Some new fish species for Icelandic waters. In 

Icelandic). Ægir 87, 7-8: 20-24. 

Jónsson, G., J. Magnússon and V. Vilhelmsdóttir 1976. 

Sjaldséðir fiskar árið 1975. (Rare fishes in 1975. In 

Icelandic). Ægir 69, 16: 306-310. 





– 1979. Sjaldséðir fiskar. (Rare fishes. In Icelandic). 

Ægir 72, 12: 732-733. 



– 1981. Sjaldséðir fiskar. (Rare fishes. In Icelandic). 

Ægir 74, 10: 575-577. 









– 1986. Sjaldséðar fisktegundir á Íslandsmiðum árið 

1985. (Rare fishes in Icelandic waters in 1985. In 

Icelandic). Ægir 79, 10: 626-629. 

– 1987. Sjaldséðir fiskar árið1986. (Rare fishes in 





1988. (Rare fish species in Icelandic waters in 1988. 

In Icelandic). Ægir 82(3): 133-136. 










Jónsson, G., J. Magnússon, V. Vilhelmsdóttir and J. 

Pálsson 1993. Nýjar og sjaldséðar fisktegundir á 

Íslandsmiðum 1992. (New and rare fish species in 

Icelandic waters in 1992. In Icelandic). Ægir 86, 3: 

131-135. 

– 1994. Sjaldséðir fiskar árið 1993. (Rare fish in 1993. 






– 1997. Nýjar og sjaldséðar fisktegundir árið 1996. 

(New and rare fish species in 1996. In Icelandic). 

Ægir 90, 4: 25-31. 

206

Oddsson, G. 1991. Tvær nýjar fisktegundir á Íslandsmiðum. 

(Two new fish species in Icelandic waters. 

In Icelandic). Náttúrfræðingurinn 60, 4: 213-217. 

Stefánsson, U. 1962. North Icelandic Waters. Rit Fiskideildar 

3, 269 pp. 

Swinney, G.N. 1995. Ceratioid anglerfish of the families 

Gigantactinidae and Lynophrynidae (Lophiiformes, 

Ceratioidea) collected off Madeira, including 

two species new to the north-eastern Atlantic. J. 

Fish Biol. 47: 39-49. 

Sæmundsson, B. 1909. Oversigt over Islands Fiske. 

(An overview of Icelandic fishes. In Danish). Medd. 

Komm. Havunders. Skrifter 5: 1-140. 

Sæmundsson, B. 1922. Zoologiske Meddelelser fra Island. 

11 Fiske, ny for Island og supplerende Oplysninger 

om andre tidligere kendte. (Zoological reports 

from Iceland. Eleven fish species new for Iceland 

and additional information on other previously 

known species. In Danish). Vidensk. Meddel. fra 

Nat. hist. Forening i Köbenhavn. Vol. 74. 

207

Fishes of the suborder Ceratioidei (Pisces: Lophiiformes) in ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?