Priacanthidae

Bigeyes
Glasseye, Heteropriacanthus cruentatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Priacanthidae
Genera
Priacanthus Pristigenys Heteropriacanthus Cookeolus See text for species.

The Priacanthidae, the bigeyes, are a family of 18 species of marine fishes. "Catalufa" is an alternate common name for some members of the Priacanthidae family. The etymology of the scientific name (prioo-, to bite + akantha, thorn) refers to the family's very rough, spined scales. The common name of "bigeye" refers to the member species' unusually large eyes, suited to their carnivorous and nocturnal lifestyles. Priacanthidae are typically colored bright red, but some have patterns in silver, dusky brown, or black. Most species reach a maximum total length of about 30 cm (12 in), although in a few species lengths of over 50 cm (20 in) are known.

Most members of this family are native to tropical and subtropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, but four species (Cookeolus japonicus, Heteropriacanthus cruentatus, Priacanthus arenatus, and Pristigenys alta) are found in the Atlantic. They tend to live near rock outcroppings or reefs, although a few are known to inhabit open waters. Many species are found in relatively deep waters, below depths reachable by normal scuba diving. Some species are fished for food.

The earliest identified Priacanthidae fossils date to the middle Eocene epoch of the lower Tertiary period, or roughly 40 to 50 million years ago.

Species

Moontail bullseye, Priacanthus hamrur

Short bigeye, Pristigenys alta

Paeony bulleye (Priacanthus blochii) from the Red Sea

The 18 species in four genera are:

• Genus Cookeolus
  • Longfinned bullseye, Cookeolus japonicus (Cuvier, 1829).
• Genus Heteropriacanthus
  • Glasseye, Heteropriacanthus cruentatus (Lacépède, 1801).
• Genus Priacanthus
  • Alalaua, Priacanthus alalaua Jordan & Evermann, 1903.
  • Atlantic bigeye, Priacanthus arenatus Cuvier, 1829.
  • Paeony bulleye, Priacanthus blochii Bleeker, 1853.
  • Priacanthus fitchi Starnes, 1988.
  • Moontail bullseye, Priacanthus hamrur (Forsskål, 1775).
  • Red bigeye, Priacanthus macracanthus Cuvier, 1829.
  • Hawaiian bigeye, Priacanthus meeki Jenkins, 1903.
  • Priacanthus nasca Starnes, 1988.
  • Elongate bulleye, Priacanthus prolixus Starnes, 1988.
  • Arrow bulleye, Priacanthus sagittarius Starnes, 1988.
  • Purple-spotted bigeye, Priacanthus tayenus Richardson, 1846.
  • Priacanthus zaiserae Starnes & Moyer, 1988.
• Genus Pristigenys
  • Short bigeye, Pristigenys alta (Gill, 1862).
  • Pristigenys meyeri (Günther, 1872).
  • Japanese bigeye, Pristigenys niphonia (Cuvier, 1829).
  • Popeye catalufa, Pristigenys serrula (Gilbert, 1891).

Timeline of genera

References

• Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Priacanthidae". FishBase. January 2006 version.
• Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Retrieved 2011-05-19.