Stylophthalmus

"Stylophthalmus paradoxus", now recognized as the larval form of Idiacanthus fasciola

"Stylophthalmus" (meaning 'stem-eye') was a name used for what was previously believed to be a genus of fish with eyes perched upon periscopic stalks, known in some cases to be almost one third of the length of the animal's actual body.^[1] It is now recognised that all species in this genus are the fish larvae^[2][3] of already named, distantly related fish in the orders Stomiiformes and Myctophiformes which may have developed this same trait as a result of convergent evolution. Thus, "Stylophthalmus" is an invalid name.

Species

• Stylophthalmus lobiancoi, Mazzarelli, 1909, Now recoginised as a junior synonym of Myctophum punctatum, Rafinesque, 1810^[4]
• Stylophthalmus mediterraneus, Mazzarelli, 1810, Now recognised as a junior synonym of Symbolophorus veranyi, Moreau, 1888 ^[5]
• Stylophthalmus paradoxus, Brauer, 1902, Now recognised as a junior synonym of Idiacanthus fasciola, Peters, 1877 ^[6] (pictured)

References

1. Proujan. C., 1971, Secrets of The Sea, London: Readers Digest Association Limited, Page 62
2. Why are the eyes of larval Black Dragonfish on stalks? - Australian Museum
3. WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Stylophthalmus
4. WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Stylophthalmus lobiancoi Mazzarelli, 1909
5. WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Stylophthalmus mediterraneus Mazzarelli, 1909
6. WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Stylophthalmus paradoxus Brauer, 1902