Family: POLYNEMIDAE, Bobos, Threadfin, Threadfins
eye large, with fatty eyelid
FAMILY POLYNEMIDAE
THREADFINS, BOBOS
Threadfins are small to medium sized fishes (16-46 cm); the body is elongate, compressed; snout short, conical, translucent, overhangs mouth; eyes large, longer than snout, with fatty cover, at front of head; mouth moderate, below, with bottom lip extending to front, but no top lip; tooth bands of top jaw touching in center; preopercle serrated; two well separated dorsal fins, VIII + I, 11-15; anal fin base short, III,10-18; pectoral low on side, divided in two sections, upper section a “normal” fin, 12-19 rays, lower section under gills with 3-16 long free rays, horizontal length of total fin base shorter than upper jaw; pelvics well behind pectoral base, under 1st dorsal; tail forked; scales rough; lateral line extends onto tail fin.
The family is worldwide and contains about 40 species in 8 genera, occurring in all tropical and subtropical seas. Only three species from one genus are found in our area, one endemic and 2 W Atlantic.
PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON, AFTER FELLES (2002)
