Beardfish

For the Swedish band, see Beardfish (band).
Beardfishes
Stout Beardfish, (P. nobilis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Polymixiiformes
D. E. 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]

Classification

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

Fossil Genera

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

Timeline of genera

Quaternary Neogene Paleogene Cretaceous Holocene Pleistocene Pliocene Miocene Oligocene Eocene Paleocene Late Cretaceous Early Cretaceous Polymixia Pycnosterinx Dalmatichthys Berycopsia Berycopsis Omosoma Homonotichthys Paraipichthys Aipichthys Aipichthyoides Quaternary Neogene Paleogene Cretaceous Holocene Pleistocene Pliocene Miocene Oligocene Eocene Paleocene Late Cretaceous Early Cretaceous

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. 1 2 Paxton, John R. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N., ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 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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