Polymixia

Polymixia
Temporal range: Possible Late Cretaceous occurrence
Stout beardfish (P. nobilis)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Polymixiiformes
Family: Polymixiidae
Genus: Polymixia
R. T. Lowe, 1838
Type species
Polymixia nobilis

Polymixia is the only extant genus of the order Polymixiiformes and family Polymixiidae. It contains 10 species, all of which live in deepwater marine environments. They are found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific Oceans. They are bottom-dwelling fish, found down to about 800 m (2,600 ft). Most are relatively small fish, although one species is over 40 cm (16 in) in length. They can be considered "living fossils" due to being the only surviving members of the once-diverse order Polymixiiformes.