Oneirodidae

Oneirodidae is a family of deep-sea anglerfish known as the dreamers. They belong to the order Lophiiformes, the anglerfishes.

Description

Dreamers have a crown-shaped esca on their heads and some species have slender bodies.

Why they're called that

The Oneirodidae are called "dreamers" because, according to Theodore Wells Pietsch III, they are “fish so strange and marvelous that it could only be imagined in the dark of the night during a state of unconsciousness”.^[1]

Genera

Bertella Pietsch, 1973
Chaenophryne Regan, 1925
Chirophryne Regan & Trewavas, 1932
Ctenochirichthys Regan & Trewavas, 1932
Danaphryne Bertelsen, 1951
Dermatias H. M .Smith & Radcliffe, 1912
Dolopichthys Garman, 1899
Leptacanthichthys Regan & Trewavas, 1932
Lophodolos Lloyd, 1909
Microlophichthys Regan & Trewavas, 1932
Oneirodes Lütken, 1871
Pentherichthys Regan & Trewavas, 1932
Puck Pietsch, 1978
Spiniphryne Bertelsen, 1951
Tyrannophryne Regan & Trewavas, 1932

Gallery

Tyrannophryne pugnax
Bulbous dreamer, Oneirodes eschrichtii
Chaenophryne quasiramifera

References

↑ "Order LOPHIIFORMES (part 2): Families CAULOPHRYNIDAE, NEOCERATIIDAE, MELANOCETIDAE, HIMANTOLOPHIDAE, DICERATIIDAE, ONEIRODIDAE, THAUMATICHTHYIDAE, CENTROPHRYNIDAE, CERATIIDAE, GIGANTACTINIDAE and LINOPHRYNIDAE".

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[1] "Order LOPHIIFORMES (part 2): Families CAULOPHRYNIDAE, NEOCERATIIDAE, MELANOCETIDAE, HIMANTOLOPHIDAE, DICERATIIDAE, ONEIRODIDAE, THAUMATICHTHYIDAE, CENTROPHRYNIDAE, CERATIIDAE, GIGANTACTINIDAE and LINOPHRYNIDAE".

[1]