Scomberesocidae

noun

Marine; epipelagic. Distribution: tropical and temperate waters. Small scales: Nanichthys and Elassichthys with 70-91 scales along midline and 107-148 in Scomberesox and Cololabis. Relatively small mouth opening. Jaws elongated into beaks, ranging from long, slender beaks to relatively short ones with lower jaw only slightly elongated. Finlets 5-7 following both dorsal and anal fins. Dorsal fin with 14-18 rays. Anal fin with 16-21 rays. Relatively small teeth. No swim bladder. Ovary unpaired in two dwarf species. Total vertebrae 54-70; precaudal 32-43. About 46 cm maximum length.

The family Scomberesocidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Beloniformes. It contains 4 genera and 4 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 carangiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be active. Members of this family have been dated back to the Miocene epoch of the Tertiary period. Etymology of this family name: Greek, skombros = tunny, mackerel, 1623 + Greek, esox = nursery of salmon