Macrouridae

noun

Distribution: Arctic to Antarctic, in deep water. Body attenuated posteriorly. Anal fin and second dorsal confluent with tail, which tapers to a sharp point. True fin spines lacking. Leading dorsal fin ray may be spinous. Usually with chin barbel. Pelvic fin insertion more or less thoracic. Pelvic fin rays 5-17; lacking in Macrouroides. No caudal fin, except in one species. Scales small. Light organ, if present, underneath skin along midline of abdomen with opening just before anus. Branchiostegal rays 6-8. Abdominal vertebrae 10-16. Maximum length usually 0.8 m. Mostly benthopelagic, occurring from 200-2000 m.

The family Macrouridae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Gadiformes. It contains 38 genera and 285 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Members of this family are not used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is subcarangiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the upper Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period. Etymology of this family name: Greek, makros = great + Greek, oura = tail