Berycidae Temporal range:
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Alfonsino (Beryx decadactylus) | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Beryciformes |
Suborder: | Berycoidei |
Family: | Berycidae R. T. Lowe, 1843 |
Genera[1] | |
Berycidae is a small family of deep-sea fishes, related to the squirrelfishes. The family includes the alfonsinos and the nannygais.
Berycids are found in both temperate and tropical waters around the world, between 10 and 1,300 m (33 and 4,265 ft) in depth, though mainly greater than 100 m (330 ft). They are typically red in colour, and measure up to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length.[2] Distinguishing features include spiny scales and large eyes and mouths.[3]
The earliest fossils are of Centroberyx from the Paleocene, though potential earlier records are known from the Campanian.[4]