Mooneye

Mooneyes
Hiodon tergisus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Hiodontiformes Taverne, 1979
Family:	Hiodontidae Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1846
Genus:	Hiodon Lesueur, 1818
Species
Hiodon alosoides Hiodon tergisus †Hiodon consteniorum †Hiodon rosei[1] †Hiodon woodruffi[1]
Synonyms
Eohiodon Cavender, 1966[1]

The mooneyes are a family, the Hiodontidae, of primitive ray-finned fish comprising two living and three extinct^[1] species in the genus Hiodon. They are large-eyed, fork-tailed fish that physically resemble shads. Their common name comes from the metallic gold or silver shine of their eyes.

The higher classification of the mooneyes is not as yet fully established. Some sources place them in their own Order - Hiodontiformes (as in the treatment here), while others retain them in the order Osteoglossiformes.

Hiodon tergisus

Mooneye caught in Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario

The mooneye (Hiodon tergisus Lesueur, 1818) is widespread across North America, living in the clear waters of lakes, ponds, and rivers. It consumes aquatic invertebrates, insects, and fish. Mooneyes can reach 47 centimetres (19 in) in length.

Mooneyes feed readily on terrestrial insects, and will provide fine sport for an intrepid flyrod angler. They will also take small lures and natural baits with gusto. Mooneyes are frantic, hyperactive fish and their impressive leaps and passionate fighting style has earned them the nickname "Freshwater Tarpon". They are also a main food source for seagulls.

Hiodon alosoides

The goldeye (Hiodon alosoides (Rafinesque, 1819)) is also widespread across North America, and is notable for a conspicuous golden iris in the eyes. It prefers turbid slower-moving waters of lakes and rivers, where it feeds on insects, crustaceans, fish, frogs, shrews, and mice. The fish has been reported up to 52 centimetres (20 in) in length. The smoked meat is highly valued and sold as "Winnipeg goldeye".

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Hilton, E. J. & Grande, L. 2008; "Fossil Mooneyes (Teleostei: Hiodontiformes, Hiodontidae) from the Eocene of western North America, with a reassessment of their taxonomy" in "Birth of the modern world: the Tertiary" Geological Society, London, Special Publications 295:221-251

• Berra, Tim M. (2001). Freshwater Fish Distribution. San Diego: Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-093156-7
• Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2011). "Hiodontidae" in FishBase. June 2011 version.

External links

• Fishbase info for Hiodontidae
• Tree of Life info for Hiodon