Opisthoproctidae
| Macropinna microstoma (Barreleye) | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Opisthoproctus soleatus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Argentiniformes |
| Family: | Opisthoproctidae |
| Genera | |
|
Bathylychnops |
|
Bathylychnops
Dolichopteroides
Dolichopteryx
Ioichthys
Macropinna
Monacoa
Opisthoproctus
Rhynchohyalus
Winteria
Barreleyes, also known as spook fish (a name also applied to several species of chimaera), are small deep-sea argentiniform fish comprising the family Opisthoproctidae found in tropical-to-temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
These fish are named because of their barrel-shaped, tubular eyes, which are generally directed upwards to detect the silhouettes of available prey; however, according to Robison and Reisenbichler, these fish are capable of directing their eyes forward, as well. The family name Opisthoproctidae is derived from the Greek words opisthe ("behind") and proktos ("anus").
The morphology of the Opisthoproctidae varies between three main forms: the stout, deep-bodied barreleyes of the genera Opisthoproctus and Macropinna, the extremely slender and elongated spookfishes of the genera Dolichopteryx and Bathylychnops, and the intermediate fusiform spookfishes of the genera Rhynchohyalus and Winteria.
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Wikipedia