''Chaunax'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

bony fish Osteichthyes (), popularly referred to as the bony fish, is a diverse superclass of fish that have skeletons primarily composed of bone tissue. They can be contrasted with the Chondrichthyes, which have skeletons primarily composed of cartilag ...

in the

sea toad The sea toads and coffinfishes are a family of deep-sea anglerfishes known as the Chaunacidae. These are bottom-dwelling fishes found on the continental slopes of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, at depths to at least . There have also ...

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...

oceans around the world and most

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fimbriatus'' as deep as . Depending on the exact species involved, they reach a total length of .

Species

There are currently 25 recognized species in this genus: * ''

Chaunax abei ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fim ...

'' Y. Le Danois, 1978 * ''

Chaunax africanus ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fim ...

'' H.-C. Ho &

Last A last is a mechanical form shaped like a human foot. It is used by shoemakers and cordwainers in the manufacture and repair of shoes. Lasts typically come in pairs and have been made from various materials, including hardwoods, cast iron, and ...

, 2013 (African coffinfish) * ''

Chaunax apus ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fim ...

'' Lloyd, 1909 * ''

Chaunax atimovatae ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fim ...

'' H.-C. Ho & W. C. Ma, 2016 * ''

Chaunax brachysomus ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fim ...

'' H.-C. Ho,

Kawai is a musical instrument manufacturing company headquartered in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan. It is best known for its grand pianos, upright pianos, digital pianos, electronic keyboards and electronic synthesizers. The company was founded in Augus ...

& Satria, 2015 (Short-body frogmouth) * ''

Chaunax breviradius ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fim ...

'' Y. Le Danois, 1978 * ''

Chaunax endeavouri The coffinfish or furry coffinfish (''Chaunax endeavouri'') is a species of sea toad of the family Chaunacidae. It is found in salty temperate waters of southwestern Pacific, off east coast of Australia. The coffinfish was first discovered arou ...

'' Whitley, 1929 (Coffinfish) * ''

Chaunax fimbriatus ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fimbri ...

'' Hilgendorf, 1879 (Tasselled coffinfish) * ''

Chaunax flammeus ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fimbri ...

'' Y. Le Danois, 1979 * ''

Chaunax flavomaculatus ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fimbri ...

'' H.-C. Ho, C. D. Roberts & A. L. Stewart, 2013 (Yellow-spot frogmouth) * ''

Chaunax gomoni ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fimbri ...

'' H.-C. Ho,

& Satria, 2015 (Gomon's frogmouth) * ''

Chaunax heemstraorum ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fim ...

'' H.-C. Ho & W. C. Ma, 2016 * '' Chaunax hollemani'' H.-C. Ho & W. C. Ma, 2016 * '' Chaunax latipunctatus'' Y. Le Danois, 1984 * '' Chaunax mulleus'' H.-C. Ho, C. D. Roberts & A. L. Stewart, 2013 (Red-shoes frogmouth) * '' Chaunax multilepis'' H.-C. Ho, Meleppura & Bineesh, 2016 (Indian spotted coffinfish) * ''

Chaunax nebulosus ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fim ...

'' H.-C. Ho &

, 2013 (Eye-spot coffinfish) * '' Chaunax nudiventer'' H.-C. Ho & K. T. Shao, 2010 (Naked-belly coffinfish) * ''

Chaunax penicillatus ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fim ...

McCulloch McCulloch is a Scottish surname. It's a variation of the Northern Irish surname McCullough. It's commonly found in Galloway. Notable people with the surname include: *Alan McCulloch (politician), New Zealand politician *Alan McLeod McCulloch ( ...

, 1915 (Pencil coffinfish) * '' Chaunax pictus'' R. T. Lowe, 1846 (Pink frogmouth) * '' Chaunax reticulatus'' H.-C. Ho, C. D. Roberts & A. L. Stewart, 2013 (Netted frogmouth) * '' Chaunax russatus'' H.-C. Ho, C. D. Roberts & A. L. Stewart, 2013 (Red coffinfish) * '' Chaunax stigmaeus'' Fowler, 1946 (Red-eye coffinfish) * ''

Chaunax suttkusi ''Chaunax'' is a genus of bony fish in the sea toad family Chaunacidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world and most species are found at depths between , but ''C. endeavouri'' occurs as shallow as and ''C. fimbri ...

'' J. H. Caruso, 1989 * '' Chaunax umbrinus'' C. H. Gilbert, 1905

Description

The Head and body of the Chaunax suttkusi fish is a pale to rosy pink, with the tops and sides of the head and fins being red; the upper body frequently has yellow dots; while the lower surfaces are whitish. Lures are uniformly pale to dusky on all surfaces with dark threads in the nose cavity.

Habitat and diet

Members of the fish are primarily found near the ocean floor, along coral reefs, oysters, soft bottoms, and near muddy substrates. Their eating habits revolve around the oceanic floor, where there are occasionally only a few small marine species to be found. As a result, they developed an energy-saving mechanism to allow them to survive on less food. The fish family is a consistent predator. They move slowly enough that their prey is unaware of their existence. In the depths of the ocean floor, they prey on nearly anything, such as small marine fishes that may be part of their diet.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3049570 Chaunacidae Deep sea fish Marine fish genera Ray-finned fish genera Taxa named by Richard Thomas Lowe