Pyramodon ventralis

Taxobox
name = "Pyramodon ventralis"


image_caption = Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Ophidiiformes
familia = Carapidae
subfamilia = Pyramodontinae
genus = "Pyramodon"
species = "P. ventralis"
binomial = "Pyramodon ventralis"
binomial_authority = Smith & Radcliffe, 1913

Pyramodon ventralis is a pearlfish of the family Carapidae, found in the Indo-western Pacific oceans at depths of between 100 and 400 m. Its length is between 25 and 30 cm.

"Pyramodon ventralis" is similar in shape to the rattails with a long tapering eel-like body ending in a pointed tail. Both the dorsal and anal fins start about a quarter of the body length from the snout and end at the fused pointed tail fin. The pectoral fins are large and paddle-shaped, but the pelvic fins are reduced to a singe short filament.

"Pyramodon ventralis" is scaleless and, very unusually, has three lateral lines, as well as a scattering of other sensory pores on the body. The eyes are large and set well forward. The wide mouth contains large canine teeth along the front of each jaw, and a large single vomerine fang.

References

*
* Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, "Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand", (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8