Notosudidae
(including Scopelosauridae)
by G. Krefft
Small to medium-sized fishes (about 20-50 cm). Body slender, elongate, round to somewhat compressed in abdominal region, becoming increasingly compressed behind anus. Head small to moderately large, snout relatively long, rather spatulate. Teeth small; premaxillary teeth uniserial in young, in a narrow band in adults; dentary with teeth in two wellseparated bands, the innermost teeth largest, vomer and palatines with two to three groups of teeth similar in size to those in jaws; gillrakers rather long, lath-like. All finrays soft; dorsal fin short, originating at about midpoint of body, with 9-14 rays; a short dorsal adipose fin always present, above anal fin; anal fin short, in last quarter of body, with 16-21 rays; pectoral fins completely lateral; pelvic fins below or in front of dorsal fin, with 9 rays; caudal fin forked, with 19 principal rays, 17 of them branched. Lateral line conspicuous. Scales completely investing body, relatively large, cycloid, deciduous; cheeks with a few scale rows. No light organs. Adults light to dark brown, head darker, gill covers blackish; scale pockets with dark edges; juveniles of some epipelagic species with bright silvery scales, small adolescents with incomplete scalation often have a bronze or silvery body.
Oceanic to nerito-oceanic, from the upper bathypelagic zone to the surface layers as well as close to the bottom on continental and insular slopes; moderately rare, but known from all oceans from subarctic to subantarctic latitudes, most abundant in subtropical and tropical waters. Highly active swimmers, hovering and darting predators, feeding on zooplankton, larger crustaceans and small fishes. Hermaphrodites; reproductive areas apparently restricted to the subtropics and tropics. Outside the spawning season, some species at least migrate to higher latitudes for far-ranging feeding purposes.
Genera 3; in Clofnam area 2.
Recent revisions: Bertelsen, Krefft and Marshall (1976).