Cheilodactylidae

views updated

Cheilodactylidae (morwong; subclass Actinopterygii, order Perciformes) A family of fairly large (up to 1.2 m long) marine fish. The body is very deep just behind the head, but tapers sharply toward the tail. The continuous, spinous, and soft-rayed dorsal fin has a very long base, but the anal fin is short. The tips of the lower pectoral rays project well beyond the fin membrane. The fish are found in the temperate waters of the southern hemisphere, and near Japan. They are well represented in southern Australia and New Zealand.

More From encyclopedia.com