Gempylidae | |
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Oilfish, Ruvettus pretiosus | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Perciformes |
Family: |
Gempylidae T. N. Gill, 1862 |
Genera | |
The Gempylidae are a family of perciform fishes, commonly known as snake mackerels or escolars. The family includes about 25 species.
They are elongated fishes with a similar appearance to barracudas, having a long dorsal fin, usually with one or finlets trailing it. The largest species, including the snoek, Thyrsites atun, grow up to 2 m long. Like the barracudas, they are predators, with fang-like teeth.
They are deep-water benthopelagic fishes, and several species are important commercial and game fishes.