Grammicolepididae

views updated

Grammicolepididae (subclass Actinopterygii, order Zeiformes) A family of marine, deep-sea fish somewhat similar to dories, but which have a small, nearly vertical mouth, and long scales arranged in almost vertical rows across the body. They are rather rare fish; one species, Vesposus egregius, is based on a specimen brought up by a lava flow near Hawaii. They are widely distributed.