Aplochitonidae

views updated

Aplochitonidae (Haplochitonidae; southern smelts; subclass Actinopterygii, order Salmoniformes) A family of fresh-water and brackish-water fish that have an elongate body and a single dorsal as well as an adipose dorsal fin. The Australian grayling, Prototroctes moraena, and the Derwent whitebait, Lovettia sealii, ascend the rivers in order to spawn. Other species occur in S. America.