Epigonidae
| Epigonidae | |
|---|---|
| Bigeye, Epigonus pandionis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acropomatiformes |
| Family: | Epigonidae Poey, 1861 |
| Genera | |
|
See text | |
Epigonidae, the deepwater cardinalfishes, are a family of acropomatiform ray-finned fishes. The family includes about 43 species.
They are small fishes: the largest, Epigonus telescopus, reaches 75 cm (30 in) in length, and most grow to no more than 20 cm (7.9 in) or so.
They are found in temperate and tropical oceans throughout the world. They are bathydemersal fishes (inhabiting deep waters close to the sea bed) and have been found at depths of 3,000 m (9,800 ft).