Jellynose fish

The jellynose fishes are a small order (Ateleopodiformes) of ray-finned fish, consisting of a single family (Ateleopodidae) with about a dozen species in four genera.

Jellynoses are deep-water marine fish. Their skeletons are largely cartilage (thus the name), although they are true teleosts[?], and not at all related to Chondrichthyes. Heads are large, with a bulbous nose, and the (usually) elongated body tapers towards the tail. Their caudal fins[?] are very small, and merged with long anal fins[?], and the pelvic fins[?] are single rays, except for Guentherus. Dorsal fins[?] tend to be prominent and placed just behind the head. The species have a range of sizes, the longest reaching 2 meters.

They are found in the Caribbean Sea, eastern Atlantic Ocean, and the Indo-Pacific[?] area. Most of the species are poorly-known, but the highfin tadpole fish Guentherus altivelis is of potential interest for commercial fishing.

External link

• FishBase info for Ateleopodidae (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/FamilySummary.cfm?ID=228)