Alepisauridae
by A. Post
Body elongate, subcylindrical; head somewhat compressed, mouth large, with small teeth and some canines. Dorsal fin long-based and high, saillike, followed by a small adipose dorsal fin; pelvic fins about midway between pectoral and anal fins, the latter short and far back on body; caudal fin deeply forked. Scales absent.
Generally oceanic, but some pseudoceanic, down to below 1,000 m. Carnivorous. Hermaphrodites.
Genus 1.
Recent revisions: Gibbs (1966).