Wolf herring

Wolf herrings
Temporal range: 55–0 Ma

Eocene to Present[1]
Dorab wolf-herring
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Clupeiformes
Family: Chirocentridae
Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1846
Genus: Chirocentrus
Cuvier, 1816
Species

See text

The wolf herrings are a family (Chirocentridae) of two marine species of ray-finned fish related to the herrings.

Both species have elongated bodies and jaws with long sharp teeth that facilitate their ravenous appetites, mostly for other fish.[2] Both species reach a length of 1 m. They have silvery sides and bluish backs.

They are commercially fished, and marketed fresh or frozen.

Species

References

  1. ^ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology 364: p.560. http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class. Retrieved 2008-01-08. 
  2. ^ Nelson, Gareth (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.. ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 94. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.