Priacanthidae

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Bigeyes
Atlantic bigeye, Priacanthus arenatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Priacanthidae
Genera
Priacanthus Pristigenys Heteropriacanthus Cookeolus See text for species.

Priacanthidae is a family of fish, common name bigeye, comprising 18 species of marine fishes. "Catalufa" is an alternate common name for some members of the priacanthidae family. The etymology of the scientific name ("prioo-", to bite + "akantha", thorn) refers to the family's very rough, spined scales. The common name of "bigeye" refers to the member species' unusually large eyes, suited to their carnivorous and nocturnal lifestyles. Priacanthidae are most typically colored bright red, but other coloration patterns do exist for some species. Most species reach a maximum total length of about 30 centimeters (12 inches), although in a few species lengths of over 50 centimeters (20 inches) are known.

Members of this family are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, where they tend to live near rock outcroppings or reefs, although a few are known to inhabit open waters. Some species are fished as a food fish.

The earliest identified Priacanthidae fossils date to the middle Eocene epoch of the lower Tertiary period, or roughly 40 to 50 million years ago.

[edit] Species

There are 18 species in 4 genera:

• Genus Cookeolus
  • Longfinned bullseye, Cookeolus japonicus (Cuvier, 1829).
• Genus Heteropriacanthus
  • Glasseye, Heteropriacanthus cruentatus (Lacépède, 1801).
• Genus Priacanthus
  • Alalaua, Priacanthus alalaua Jordan & Evermann, 1903.
  • Atlantic bigeye, Priacanthus arenatus Cuvier, 1829.
  • Paeony bulleye, Priacanthus blochii Bleeker, 1853.
  • Priacanthus fitchi Starnes, 1988.
  • Moontail bullseye, Priacanthus hamrur Forsskål, 1775.
  • Red bigeye, Priacanthus macracanthus Cuvier, 1829.
  • Hawaiian bigeye, Priacanthus meeki Jenkins, 1903.
  • Priacanthus nasca Starnes, 1988.
  • Elongate bulleye, Priacanthus prolixus Starnes, 1988.
  • Arrow bulleye, Priacanthus sagittarius Starnes, 1988.
  • Purple-spotted bigeye, Priacanthus tayenus Richardson, 1846.
  • Priacanthus zaiserae Starnes & Moyer, 1988.
• Genus Pristigenys
  • Short bigeye, Pristigenys alta (Gill, 1862).
  • Pristigenys meyeri (Günther, 1872).
  • Japanese bigeye, Pristigenys niphonia (Cuvier, 1829).
  • Popeye catalufa, Pristigenys serrula (Gilbert, 1891).