ABSTRACT
Chaunacidae (sea toads, coffinfishes, gapers) are members of the order Lophiiformes that are benthic bottom dwellers found on continental shelves and slopes from approximately 90 m to greater than 2200 m (Caruso 1989). Two genera, (Chaunax, Bathychaunax) and four species are recognized in the central western North Atlantic. Bathychaunax generally inhabit greater depths than Chaunax (Caruso 1989). The bathymetric distributions of adults are: Chaunax pictus (275-622m), C. suttkusi (220-1060 m), Chaunax stigmaeus (90-699 m), and B. roseus (1023-2200 m). C. suttkusi is wide ranging over most of the area, C. pictus has been collected off Florida, Cuba and Honduras, C. stigmaeus is more northern, but has been collected off the Norfolk Canyon (36°N), and B. roseus is known from the Blake Plateau and Bermuda (Caruso 1989). Ovaries of adult females have been observed to be scrolled as in other Lophiiformes. This taxa is assumed to produce epipelagic egg rafts. However no eggs or egg rafts have been observed (Pietsch 1984). Little has been published as to the early life history of these fishes (Pietsch 1984). Specimens reviewed by Pietsch in 1984 measured from 4.3-10.6 mm TL, all of which appeared to have already started metamorphosis and were prejuveniles with all fin rays formed including the illicium (Pietsch 1984). Early stage pigmentation appears to be absent (Pietsch 1984).
