Neha Patil (Editor)

Veliferidae

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Phylum
  
Chordata

Rank
  
Family

Scientific name
  
Veliferidae

Higher classification
  
Lampriformes

Order
  
Lampriformes

Veliferidae fishesofaustralianetauImagesImageVelifHypselo

Similar
  
Lampriformes, Velifer hypselopterus, Metavelifer multiradiatus, Crestfish, Actinopterygii

Sailfin moonfishes are a small family, Veliferidae, of lampriform fishes found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. Unlike other lampriforms, they live in shallow, coastal waters, of less than 100 m (330 ft) depth, rather than in the deep ocean. They are also much smaller than most of their relatives, up to 30 cm (12 in) in length, and have deep, rather than elongated, bodies. They are characterised by their ability to retract the anterior rays of their dorsal and anal fins into a sheath.

Species

The two extant species in two genera are:

  • Genus Metavelifer Walters, 1960
  • Metavelifer multiradiatus (Regan, 1907)
  • Genus Velifer Temminck and Schlegel, 1850
  • Velifer hypselopterus Bleeker, 1879
  • A prehistoric fossil member of the family is Veronavelifer, from the Eocene of Italy.

    References

    Veliferidae Wikipedia