Surfperch

Surfperches
Striped seaperch, Embiotoca lateralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Embiotocidae
Genera

Amphistichus
Brachyistius
Cymatogaster
Ditrema
Embiotoca
Hyperprosopon
Hypsurus
Hysterocarpus
Micrometrus
Neoditrema
Phanerodon
Rhacochilus
Zalembius
See text for species.

The surfperches are a family, Embiotocidae, of perciform fishes. They are found in coastal waters of the northern Pacific and grow up to 45 cm (17.7 inches) long.

They are viviparous fishes, in which the embryo is nourished directly by the mother as well as the yolk. This gives the family its scientific name, from Greek embios meaning "persistent" and tokos meaning "birth".

Contents

Species

There are 22 species in 13 genera:

Timeline of genera


See also

References