Kingdom Animalia Family Cetomimidae Rank Species People also search for Parataeniophorus | Class Actinopterygii Phylum Chordata Order Cetomimiformes | |
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Genus Mirapinna
Bertelsen & N. B. Marshall, 1956 | ||
Mirapinna esau, the Hairyfish, is a species of flabby whalefish only known from the Atlantic Ocean from near the Azores. Formerly considered a member of the no longer recognized family Mirapinnidae, this species is the only known member of its genus.
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Description
Mirapinna esau grows to a length of 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in) TL. Little is known of the fish beyond its appearance. Wheeler (1977) states that only one specimen was caught, near the sea surface, and that it was a copepod feeder. The original specimen was captured north of the Azores at 47°20'North, 22°30'West.
Etymology
The generic name is from the Latin 'mirus' (wonderful), 'pinna' (thorn), for the unusual fins possessed by this fish. The specific name is from the character Esau in the bible, who is stated to be a hairy man (Genesis 27:11).