Odacidae

Odacidae
Odacidae
A greenbone (Odax pullus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Odacidae
Genera

Haletta
Neoodax
Odax
Siphonognathus

Odacidae is a small family of fishes in the order Perciformes, commonly known as butterfish, cales, and weed-whitings. They are related to the much larger families of the wrasses and parrotfish.[1]

Odacids are found in coastal waters off Australia and New Zealand. They include species that feed on small invertebrates, as well as herbivorous grazers, some of which are able to feed on chemically unpleasant varieties of kelp otherwise unpalatable to fish.[1]

Genera

There are twelve species in four genera.

  • Genus Haletta Whitley, 1947
    • Blue weed whiting, Haletta semifasciata (Valenciennes, 1840)
  • Genus Neoodax Castelnau, 1875
  • Genus Odax Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1840
  • Genus Siphonognathus Richardson, 1858
    • Tubemouth, Siphonognathus argyrophanes Richardson, 1858
    • Slender weed whiting, Siphonognathus attenuatus (Ogilby, 1897)
    • Siphonognathus beddomei (Johnston, 1885)
    • Siphonognathus caninis (Scott, 1976)
    • Long-rayed weed whiting, Siphonognathus radiatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834)
    • Siphonognathus tanyourus Gomon & Paxton, 1986

References

  1. ^ a b Choat, J.W. & Bellwood, D.R. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.. ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. xxx. ISBN 0-12-547665-5. 


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