Berycidae

Berycidae
Temporal range: Paleocene–present
Alfonsino (Beryx decadactylus)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Beryciformes
Suborder: Berycoidei
Family: Berycidae
R. T. Lowe, 1843
Genera[1]

†Argilloberyx
Beryx
Centroberyx
†Nishiberyx

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]

  1. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Berycidae". FishBase. October 2012 version.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Beryx". FishBase. January 2017 version.
  3. ^ Paxton, John R. (1998). Paxton, J.R.; Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 161. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.
  4. ^ "PBDB". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2024-02-25.