Aulopidae

Aulopidae Temporal range: Cenomanian–present, 96–0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
A sergeant baker (Latropiscis purpurissatus)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Aulopiformes
Suborder:	Synodontoidei
Family:	Aulopidae Cope, 1872
Genera[2]
Aulopus Hime Latropiscis Leptaulopus[1]

The Aulopidae are a small family of aulopiform ray-finned fish. They are found in most tropical and subtropical oceans, such as the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific. ^[3] The aulopids are commonly known as flagfins.

The aulopids resemble lizardfishes in appearance, and range up to 60 cm (24 in) in length. They have large dorsal fins, the first ray of which is greatly extended. They are bottom-dwelling fish, living at depths of 1,000 m (3,300 ft).^[4]

The earliest known member of the group is Nematonotus from the Cenomanian of Lebanon.^[5]

References

1. Gomon, M.F., Struthers, C.D. & Stewart, A.L. (2013): A New Genus and Two New Species of the Family Aulopidae (Aulopiformes), Commonly Referred to as Aulopus, Flagfins, Sergeant Bakers or Threadsails, in Australasian Waters. There are about 15 species in 4 genera. Species Diversity, 18: 141–161.
2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Aulopidae". FishBase. October 2013 version.
3. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Aulopidae". FishBase. October 2013 version.
4. Johnson, R.K. & Eschmeyer, W.N. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 124. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.
5. Davis, Matthew P.; Fielitz, Christopher (2010-12-01). "Estimating divergence times of lizardfishes and their allies (Euteleostei: Aulopiformes) and the timing of deep-sea adaptations". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 57 (3): 1194–1208. Bibcode:2010MolPE..57.1194D. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.09.003. ISSN 1055-7903. PMID 20854916.