Domain |
   Eukarya |
Kingdom |
   Animalia |
Phylum |
   Chordata |
Family |
   Polymixiidae |
Description |
   Beardfishes |
Environment |
   Marine |
Etymology |
   Greek, poly = a lot of + Greek, myxa = mud |
Genus |
   1 |
No. of Species |
   10 |
Order |
   Polymixiiformes |
Class |
   Actinopterygii |
Reproductive Guild |
   Nonguarders |
Distribution |
   Atlantic, Indian, and Western Pacific. Tropical and subtropical. Moderately elongate and compressed. A pair of barbels on hyoid. Continuous dorsal fin; 4-6 spines, 26-38 soft rays. Anal fin 4 short spines, 13-17 soft rays. Subabdominal pelvic fin; 1 spinelike ray, 6 soft rays. Caudal fin 16 branched rays. Scales in lateral line about 33-38. Banchiostegal 4 rays. Gillrakers 11-21. Supramaxillae 2. Epurals 3. Subocular shelf, ortbitosphenoid, and basisphenoid present. Vertebrae usually 29 or 30. Maximum length attains 38 cm . Usually found in depths between 180 and 640 m. |