Beardfish

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Beardfishes
Stout Beardfish, (P. nobilis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Polymixiiformes
Rosen & Patterson, 1969
Family: Polymixiidae
T. N. Gill, 1862
Genus: Polymixia
R. T. Lowe, 1838


The beardfishes consist of a single extant genus (Polymixia) in a small family (Polymixiidae) of deep-sea marine ray-finned fish named for their pair of long hyoid barbels. At present they are classified in their own order Polymixiiformes,[1] but as Nelson says, "few groups have been shifted back and forth as frequently as this one".[2] For instance, they have previously been classified as belonging to the Beryciformes. They are of little economic importance.[3]

They are found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific Ocean. They are bottom-dwelling fish, found down to about 800 metres (2,600 ft) depth. Most are relatively small fish, although one species is over 40 centimetres (16 in) in length.[3]

Contents

Classification

There are currently 10 recognized species in this genus: [4]

  • Polymixia berndti C. H. Gilbert, 1905 (Pacific beardfish)
  • Polymixia busakhini Kotlyar, 1993 (Busakhin's beardfish)
  • Polymixia fusca Kotthaus, 1970
  • Polymixia japonica Günther, 1877 (Silver eye)
  • Polymixia longispina S. M. Deng, G. Q. Xiong & H. X. Zhan, 1983
  • Polymixia lowei Günther, 1859 (Beardfish)
  • Polymixia nobilis R. T. Lowe, 1838 (Stout beardfish)
  • Polymixia salagomeziensis Kotlyar, 1991
  • Polymixia sazonovi Kotlyar, 1992
  • Polymixia yuri Kotlyar, 1982

Fossil Genera

In addition to the extant Polymixia, there are several fossil genera known.

Timeline of genera

References

  1. ^ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Polymixiiformes" in FishBase. February 2006 version.
  2. ^ Joseph S. Nelson. Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-54713-1. 
  3. ^ a b Paxton, John R. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.. ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 161. ISBN 0-12-547665-5. 
  4. ^ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2012). Species of Polymixia in FishBase. April 2012 version.

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