Berycidae

views updated

Berycidae (alfonsinos; subclass Actinopterygii, order Beryciformes) A small family of marine, offshore fish that are deep-bodied, with strongly forked tails, large eyes, and often a reddish skin indicative of fish living at moderate depths: in temperate Australia, Trachichthodes affinis (nannygai) are trawled commercially and are sometimes sold as ‘redfish’. There are about 10 species, with world-wide distribution.