Chaunacops Chaunax The sea toads and coffinfishes are a family, the Chaunacidae, of deep-sea ray-finned fishes belonging to the monotypic suborder Chaunacoidei within the order Lophiiformes, the anglerfishes.

[1][2] These are bottom-dwelling fishes found on the continental slopes of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans,[3] at depths to at least 2,460 m (8,070 ft).

[5] Charles Tate Regan placed this family within the division Antennariformes within his suborder Lophiodea when he classified the order Pediculati, his grouping of the toadfishes and anglerfishes.

He, tenatively, retained both groups within the Antennarioidei even although he was unable to establish the monophyly of the four families Regan classified in the Antennariiformes in 1912.

[10] The first dorsal fin ray is modified into a short bioluminescent lure which dangles forward over the mouth, which is turned upwards so as to be nearly vertical.

Their bodies are covered in lots of small needles that are thought to offer protection or sensory signaling sites.

Despite the spiky nature of the needles they give the fish a fuzzy crocheted disposition making them quite visually distinct.

Similar to the Chaunax, they also have modified fins that allow them to walk along the sea floor which is thought to provide both a hunting and metabolic advantage.

[15] The sensory canals of the lateral lines are especially conspicuous, and confers advantages in avoidance of predators and consumption of prey.

These specimen were from the genus Bathychaunax, which before this study only contained 2 other species: B. coloratus of the Eastern Pacific, and B. roseus from the Western Atlantic.

The inside of the mouth, the head, the gill chamber, and the anterior portion of the body are dark brown to black.

The general body plan, however, is virtually the same, resembling a tadpole, with a more globular shape in the anterior which tapers in the posterior.

It was observed that the specimen begin in a transparent larval form, then become blue, and eventually reach their adult red color.

Upon inhalation, Chaunacidae can endure long periods of time maintaining a fully inflated gill chamber, sometimes up to 245 seconds which confers many potential advantages for fish of this family.

Due to the long periods of high-volume inhalation, Chaunacidae makes little disturbance of lateral line systems, allowing for better hunting and avoidance of predators.

In addition, the maximally filled mouth of the Chaunacidae is often intimidating to predators, making it a defense mechanism that the fish can use much like the pufferfish.