Monacoa

{{Short description|Genus of fishes}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Opisthoproctus grimaldii.jpg | image_caption = ''Monacoa grimaldii'' | image2 = Monacoa soles.png | image2_caption = The "sole" is useful in identifying the different ''Monacoa'' species | taxon = Monacoa | authority = Whitley, 1943 | type_species = ''Opisthoproctus grimaldii'' | type_species_authority = Zugmayer, 1911 }}

'''''Monacoa''''' is a genus of fish in the family Opisthoproctidae<ref name=CoF/> found in Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They are also known as '''long-nosed mirrorbellies'''<ref name="Poulsen2016"/> or '''mirrorbelly spookfish''', in reference to the bioluminescent organ in their intestines.<ref name=Bellies>{{cite web |url=http://researchnews.plos.org/2016/08/10/two-new-species-of-deep-sea-fish-may-communicate-with-light-shining-from-their-bellies/ |title=Two new species of deep-sea fish may communicate with light shining from their bellies] |author=Robin Meadows |work=PLOS RESEARCH NEWS |date=August 10, 2016 |access-date=April 13, 2017 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2025}} The largest species, ''Monacoa grimaldii'', can grow to {{convert|8|cm|abbr=on}} standard length.<ref name=FishBase/>

==Species== Until 2016, ''Monacoa'' was thought to be a synonym of ''Opisthoproctus'', but in 2016 the name was resurrected and it was determined that there are 3 distinct species in the genus. ''Monacoa griseus'' and ''Monacoa niger'' are distinguished from ''M. grimaldii'' due to differences in the pigmentation of their "soles". An examination of their complete mitochondrial genomes further proves the species are distinct.<ref name=Poulsen2016>{{cite journal |last1=Poulsen |first1=Jan Yde |last2=Sado |first2=Tetsuya |last3=Hahn |first3=Christoph |last4=Byrkjedal |first4=Ingvar |last5=Moku |first5=Masatoshi |last6=Miya |first6=Masaki |name-list-style=amp |title=Preservation obscures pelagic deep-sea fish diversity: doubling the number of sole-bearing opisthoproctids and resurrection of the genus ''Monacoa'' (Opisthoproctidae, Argentiniformes) |journal=PLOS ONE |date=2016 |volume=11 |issue=8 |article-number=e0159762 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0159762 |pmid=27508419 |pmc=4980007 |bibcode=2016PLoSO..1159762P |doi-access=free }}</ref>

There are currently 3 recognized species in this genus:<ref name=FishBase/> * ''Monacoa grimaldii'' (Zugmayer, 1911) (mirrorbelly) [B] * ''Monacoa griseus'' J. Y. Poulsen, Sado, C. Hahn, Byrkjedal, Moku & Miya, 2016 (grey mirrorbelly)<ref name="Poulsen2016"/> [C & D] * ''Monacoa niger'' J. Y. Poulsen, Sado, C. Hahn, Byrkjedal, Moku & Miya, 2016 (black mirrorbelly)<ref name="Poulsen2016"/> [A]

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=CoF>{{Cof record |genid=7014|title=''Monacoa'' |access-date=10 June 2022}}</ref>

<ref name=FishBase>{{FishBase genus |genus=Monacoa |month=February |year=2022}}</ref> }}

Category:Opisthoproctidae Category:Actinopterygii genera Category:Taxa named by Gilbert Percy Whitley Category:Marine fish genera