The Elopidae are a
family of
ray-finned fish containing a single living genus ''
Elops''. They are commonly known as ladyfish, skipjacks, jack-rashes, or tenpounders.
The ladyfish are a coastal-dwelling fish found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions, occasionally venturing into temperate waters.
[Adams, A. J., Horodysky, A. Z., McBride, R. S., Guindon, K., Shenker, J., MacDonald, T. C., Harwell, H. D., Ward, R., and Carpenter, K. Global conservation status and research needs for tarpons (Megalopidae), ladyfishes (Elopidae) and bonefishes (Albulidae). Fish and Fisheries (online, early view as of 2013). http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/faf.12017/abstract] Spawning takes place at sea, and the
fish larvae migrate inland entering brackish waters. Their food is smaller fish and
crustaceans (
shrimp
Shrimp are crustaceans (a form of shellfish) with elongated bodies and a primarily swimming mode of locomotion – most commonly Caridea and Dendrobranchiata of the decapod order, although some crustaceans outside of this order are refer ...
). Typically throughout the species, the maximum size is and the maximum weight . The body is fusiform (tapering spindle shape) and oval in cross-section; being slightly laterally compressed, and the eyes are large and partially covered with
adipose eyelids.
Like those of
eels, the larvae are
leptocephalic - being highly compressed, ribbon-like, and transparent. After initial growth, they shrink and then metamorphose into the adult form.
This family is fished, but their bodies are bony, so these fish are not marketed widely for consumption. They are caught and used as bait or may be ground down for fish meal.
The name comes from the
Greek ''ellops'' - a kind of serpent.
Species
The currently recognized species in this genus are:
* ''
Elops affinis''
Regan, 1909 (Pacific ladyfish)
* †''
Elops bultyncki''
Nolf 2004
* ''
Elops hawaiensis''
Regan, 1909 (Hawaiian ladyfish or giant herring)
* ''
Elops lacerta''
Valenciennes, 1847 (West African ladyfish or Guinean ladyfish)
* ''
Elops machnata''
( Forsskål, 1775) (tenpounder)
* †''
Elops miiformis''
Lin et al. 2016
* ''
Elops saurus''
Linnaeus, 1766 (ladyfish)
* ''
Elops senegalensis
The Senegalese ladyfish (''Elops senegalensis'') is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Elopidae, and it's native to the coastal waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Mauritania
Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french ...
''
Regan, 1909 (Senegalese ladyfish)
* ''
Elops smithi
The malacho or Southern ladyfish, (''Elops smithi'') is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus ''Elops'', the only genus in the monotypic family Elopidae.
Description
''Elops smithi'' like other species in its genus, has a long, slender, r ...
''
McBride, Rocha, Ruiz-Carus & Bowen Bowen may refer to:
Places
Australia
* Bowen, Queensland, a town
* Bowen Hills, Queensland, a suburb
** Bowen Hills railway station, a railway station in Bowen Hills
** Bowen Park, Brisbane, a park in Bowen Hills
* Bowen Bridge, crossing the Derw ...
, 2010 (malacho)
[McBride, Richard S., Rocha, Claudia R., Ruiz-Carus, Ramon, Bowen, Brian W. 2012. A new species of ladyfish, of the genus '' Elops'' (Elopiformes: Elopidae), from the western Atlantic Ocean. Zootaxa. 2346: 29-41. DOI: http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2010/f/zt02346p041.pdf]
See also
*
Tarpon
References
Pantropical fish
Fish of the Atlantic Ocean
Extant Early Cretaceous first appearances
Ray-finned fish families
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