Congiopodidae

Congiopodidae
Pigfishes and horsefishes
Alert pigfish, Alertichthys blacki
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Congiopodidae
Genera

Alertichthys
Congiopodus
Perryena
Zanclorhynchus

Congiopodidae is a family of scorpaeniform fishes native to the southern hemisphere, commonly known as pigfishes, horsefishes and racehorses.

Congiopids live on the bottom of shallow temperate and sub-Antarctic seas, at depths of up to 150 metres (490 ft). They lack scales, and have a projecting snout with a small mouth.[1]

Classification

There are nine species in four genera:

  • Genus Alertichthys
  • Genus Congiopodus
    • Deepsea pigfish, Congiopodus coriaceus
    • Congiopodus kieneri
    • Southern pigfish, Congiopodus leucopaecilus
    • Congiopodus peruvianus
    • Spinenose horsefish, Congiopodus spinifer
    • Smooth horsefish, Congiopodus torvus
  • Genus Perryena
    • Perryena leucometopon
  • Genus Zanclorhynchus
    • Spiny horsefish, Zanclorhynchus spinifer

See also

List of fish families

References

  1. ^ Eschmeyer, William N. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.. ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 176. ISBN 0-12-547665-5. 
Stub icon This Scorpaeniformes article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.