Mene

Mene
Temporal range: Thanetian to Present
Mene maculata
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Suborder: Menoidei
Family: Menidae
Fitzinger, 1873
Genus: Mene
Lacépède, 1803
Species
Synonyms
  • Meneus Rafinesque, 1815
  • Gasteronemus Agassiz, 1833

The moonfish of the genus Mene, the sole extant genus of the family Menidae, are disk-shaped fish which bear a vague resemblance to gourami, thanks to their thread-like pelvic fins. Today, the genus is represented only by Mene maculata of the Indo-Pacific, where it is a popular food fish, especially in the Philippines, where it is known as bilong-bilong, chabita, hiwas or tahas.