Mene

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mene Fossil range: Paleocene to Holocene
Mene oblonga & Mene rhombea
Conservation status
fossil and living
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Menidae Genus: Mene
Species
Mene maculata Mene rhombea † Mene purdyi † Mene oblonga †

The moonfish of the genus Mene, the sole extant genus of the family Menidae are disk-shaped fish which bear a vague resemblance to gourami, thanks to their thread-like pelvic fins. Today, the genus is represented only by Mene maculata of the Indo-Pacific, where it is a popular food fish, especially in the Philippines, where it is known as "danggit".

Mene is a long-lived genus, with species found in marine sediments throughout the Cenozoic Era. The earliest species, such as M. purdyi from the Paleocene of Peru, already resemble later species, such as M. rhombea of the Monte Bolca lagerstätte, and even the living species, M. maculata.

Beyond being a group of percoid fishes, the affinity of Mene remains obscure. Anatomical and recent molecular studies strongly suggest a relationship with the pomfrets, dolphinfish, and the jacks. The genus' ancestry is particularly obscure, though, it is suggested that some Cretaceous acanthomorph fish, particularly Aipichthyoides of Cretaceous Lebanon, was close to Mene's ancestry.

[edit] External links

• "A new species of Mene (Perciformes: Menidae) from the Paleocene of South America, with notes on paleoenvironment and a brief review of menid fishes."