| Aulopidae | |
|---|---|
| Aulopus purpurissatus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Aulopiformes |
| Family: | Aulopidae |
| Genus: | Aulopus |
| Species | |
|
See Text |
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The Aulopidae are a small family of aulopiform fish, containing the single genus Aulopus. They are found in most tropical and subtropical oceans, being absent only in the eastern Pacific and commonly known as flagfins.
The aulopids resemble lizardfishes in appearance, and range up to 60 centimetres (24 in) in length. They have large dorsal fins, the first ray of which is greatly extended in the males. A unique identifying characteristic is the presence of two additional bones (the supramaxillae) in the upper jaw. They are bottom-dwelling fish, living at depths of up to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).[1]
The family and genus contains eleven species:[2]
Family Aulopidae