Ipnopidae

Ipnopidae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Aulopiformes
Family: Ipnopidae
Genera

Bathymicrops
Bathypterois
Bathysauropsis
Bathytyphlops
Ipnops

Ipnopidae (deepsea tripod fishes) is a family of fishes in the order Aulopiformes. They are small slender fishes, with maximum length ranging from about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) to about 40 centimetres (16 in). They are found in temperate and tropical deep waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

A number of species, especially in the genus Bathypterois have elongated pectoral and pelvic fins. In the case of the tripod fish, Bathypterois grallator, these fins are three times as long as the body — up to a metre in length — and are used for standing on the sea floor. Ipnopids either have tiny eyes, or very large eyes that lack any lens; in either case they have very poor vision and are unable to form an image.[1]

Species

There are thirty species in five genera:

References

  1. ^ Johnson, R.K. & Eschmeyer, W.N. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.. ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 125. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.