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Elopidae

 
(e′läp·ə′dē)

(vertebrate zoology) A family of fishes in the order Elopiformes, including the tarpon, ladyfish, and machete.


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WordNet: Elopidae
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: tarpons and ladyfishes
  Synonym: family Elopidae


Wikipedia: Elopidae
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The Spanish hogfish (Bodianus rufus) is also sometimes known as "ladyfish".
Ladyfishes and tenpounders
Fossil range: Early Cretaceous–Recent
[1]

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Elopiformes
Family: Elopidae
Genus: Elops
Linnaeus, 1766
Species

Elops affinis
Elops hawaiensis
Elops lacerta
Elops machnata
Elops saurus
Elops senegalensis

Elopidae is a family of ray-finned fish containing the single genus Elops. They are commonly known as ladyfishes, skipjacks, Jack-Rashes, or tenpounders.

The ladyfish are a coastal dwelling fish found throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Spawning takes place at sea and the fish larvae migrate inland entering brackish waters. Their food is smaller fish and crustaceans (shrimp). Typically throughout the species the maximum size is 1 metre (3.3 ft) and the maximum weight 10 kilograms (22 lb). The body is fusiform (tapering spindle shape) and oval in cross-section; being slightly laterally compressed, the eyes are large and partially covered with fatty (adipose) eyelids.

Like those of eels, the larvae are leptocephalic - being highly compressed, ribbon-like and transparent. After initial growth they shrink and then metamorphise into the adult form.

This family is fished, but the body is bony and therefore not edible by humans. However, the fish may be ground down for fish meal.

The name comes from the Greek ellops - a kind of serpent.[2]

Species

There are six species:[3]

References

  1. ^ "Elopidae". FishBase. Ed. Rainer Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2009 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2009.
  2. ^ * "Elopidae". FishBase. Ed. Rainer Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
  3. ^ Elops (TSN 161110). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 1 July 2006.

 
 
Learn More
tarpon
Elopiformes (Ladyfish and Tarpon) (zoology)
Osmeriformes (Smelts, Galaxiids, and Relatives) (zoology)

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