Aploactinidae (Family)

Overview

Little velvetfishes or simply velvetfishes are a family, the Aploactinidae, of scorpaeniform fishes.

As the name implies, they are small fish that have skin with a velvet texture. They are generally flattened in shape, with small pelvic fins, and a fleshy pad under the head, which, in at least one species, forms a sucker for attaching the fish to the sea floor. Some also have venomous spines. They live on the sea bottom close to the shore, at depths of up to 100 metres (330 ft).^1]

Classification

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There are about forty known species of velvetfish, although, since they are rarely seen, it is likely that there are many more remaining to be discovered.^[1] The species are grouped into sixteen genera:

Family Aploactinidae

Genus Acanthosphex
Genus Adventor
Genus Aploactis
Genus Aploactisoma
Genus Bathyaploactis
Genus Cocotropus
Genus Erisphex
Genus Kanekonia
Genus Matsubarichthys
Genus Neoaploactis
Genus Paraploactis
Genus Peristrominous
Genus Prosoproctus
Genus Ptarmus
Genus Sthenopus
Genus Xenaploactis

omous spines. They live on the sea bottom close to the shore, at depths of up to 100 metres (330 ft).^1]

Classification

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Family Aploactinidae

Genus Acanthosphex
Genus Adventor
Genus Aploactis
Genus Aploactisoma
Genus Bathyaploactis
Genus Cocotropus
Genus Erisphex
Genus Kanekonia
Genus Matsubarichthys
Genus Neoaploactis
Genus Paraploactis
Genus Peristrominous
Genus Prosoproctus
Genus Ptarmus
Genus Sthenopus
Genus Xenaploactis

References

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^ ^a ^b Eschmeyer, William N. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.. ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Ac ademic Press. p. 176. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.

Taxonomy

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The Family Aploactinidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genus (11): Acanthosphex · Adventor · Aploactis · Aploactisoma · Bathyaploactis · Cocotropus · Erisphex · Eschmeyer · Karumba · Paraploactis · Pseudopataecus
Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 35 species and subspecies in the Family Aploactinidae.

Genera

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Acanthosphex

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.^[1] [more]

Adventor

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.^[2] [more]

Aploactis

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.^[3] [more]

Aploactisoma

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.^[4] [more]

Bathyaploactis

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.^[5] [more]

Cocotropus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.^[6] [more]

Erisphex

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.^[7] [more]

Eschmeyer

[more]

Karumba

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.^[8] [more]

Paraploactis

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.^[9] [more]

Pseudopataecus

[more]

More info about the Genus Pseudopataecus may be found here.

References

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^ ^a ^b Eschmeyer, William N. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.. ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 176. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.

Footnotes

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http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=114643
http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=114668
http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=114829
http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=114830
http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=115002
http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=115401
http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=115760
http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=116285
http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=117089

Sources

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