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Family
Polymixiidae (Beardfishes)
Species Currently in the DFL
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About This Family
Distribution:
Marine; tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.
Remarks:
The Polymixiid Beardfishes are named for the pair of hyoid barbels attached at the chin (not visible in the specimen photo). Their bodies are moderately elongate and compressed. The dorsal fin is continuous, with anywhere from 4-6 spines and 26-38 soft rays and the pelvic fins (which have one spinelike ray and six soft rays) are attached below the abdomen. The anal fin has four short spines and 13-17 soft rays and the caudal fin has 16 branched rays.
Members of this family have a prominent subocular shelf. The Orbitosphenoid and Basisphenoid are also present. Species in this family represent the only Acanthomorph teleosts that have retained two sets of epipleurals (intermuscular bones).
Polymixiid Beardfishes attain a size no larger than 38 cm, and are usually found between 180 and 640 m depth.
This family includes only one genus, Polymixia and 10 species.
References:
Nelson 2006