Family: TRICHIURIDAE, Cutlassfish, Cutlassfishes, Hairtails

FAMILY TRICHIURIDAE

CUTLASSFISHES, HAIRTAILS

Cutlass-fishes are large fishes (1-2 m) with thin ribbon-like bodies; 1 pair of nostrils; a large mouth with protruding lower jaw, with large fangs; dorsal and anal fins are extremely long-based and low, the anal sometimes reduced to a series of small projecting spines; pectoral fins 12, small, on mid to lower side; pelvic fins absent or represented by I tiny spine plus 0-1 tiny rays; tail fin small and forked, or absent; lateral line complete; no scales.

The family contains 32 species in nine genera; one circumtropical species occurs in our region.