Priacanthidae

Taxobox
name = Bigeyes


image_width = 250px
image_caption = Atlantic bigeye, "Priacanthus arenatus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Priacanthidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Priacanthus" "Pristigenys" "Heteropriacanthus" "Cookeolus" See text for species.

Priacanthidae is a family of fish, common name bigeye, comprising 18 species of marine fishes. "Catalufa" is an alternate common name for some members of the priacanthidae family. The etymology of the scientific name ("prioo-", to bite + "akantha", thorn) refers to the family's very rough, spined scales. The common name of "bigeye" refers to the member species' unusually large eyes, suited to their carnivorous and nocturnal lifestyles. Priacanthidae are most typically colored bright red, but other coloration patterns do exist for some species. Most species reach a maximum total length of about 30 centimeters (12 inches), although in a few species lengths of over 50 centimeters (20 inches) are known.

Members of this family are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, where they tend to live near rock outcroppings or reefs, although a few are known to inhabit open waters. Some species are fished as a food fish.

The earliest identified Priacanthidae fossils date to the middle Eocene epoch of the lower Tertiary period, or roughly 40 to 50 million years ago.

pecies

There are 18 species in 4 genera:
* Genus "Cookeolus"
** Longfinned bullseye, "Cookeolus japonicus" (Cuvier, 1829).
* Genus "Heteropriacanthus"
** Glasseye, "Heteropriacanthus cruentatus" (Lacépède, 1801).
* Genus "Priacanthus"
** Alalaua, "Priacanthus alalaua" Jordan & Evermann, 1903.
** Atlantic bigeye, "Priacanthus arenatus" Cuvier, 1829.
** Paeony bulleye, "Priacanthus blochii" Bleeker, 1853.
** "Priacanthus fitchi" Starnes, 1988.
** Moontail bullseye, "Priacanthus hamrur" Forsskål, 1775.
** Red bigeye, "Priacanthus macracanthus" Cuvier, 1829.
** Hawaiian bigeye, "Priacanthus meeki" Jenkins, 1903.
** "Priacanthus nasca" Starnes, 1988.
** Elongate bulleye, "Priacanthus prolixus" Starnes, 1988.
** Arrow bulleye, "Priacanthus sagittarius" Starnes, 1988.
** Purple-spotted bigeye, "Priacanthus tayenus" Richardson, 1846.
** "Priacanthus zaiserae" Starnes & Moyer, 1988.
* Genus "Pristigenys"
** Short bigeye, "Pristigenys alta" (Gill, 1862).
** "Pristigenys meyeri" (Günther, 1872).
** Japanese bigeye, "Pristigenys niphonia" (Cuvier, 1829).
** Popeye catalufa, "Pristigenys serrula" (Gilbert, 1891).

References

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