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Sternoptyx

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Sternoptyx have silvery, high, and laterally compressed bodies and large, non-telescopic eyes. They are all relatively small, with even the largest species (S. pseudobscura and S. pseudodiaphana) not exceeding 60 millimetres (2.4 in) standard length.

Species

There are currently four recognized species in this genus:

  • Sternoptyx diaphana Hermann, 1781 (Diaphanous hatchetfish)
  • Sternoptyx obscura Garman, 1899
  • Sternoptyx pseudobscura R. C. Baird, 1971 (Highlight hatchetfish)
  • Sternoptyx pseudodiaphana Borodulina, 1977 (False oblique hatchetfish)

Fossils of this genus show that they have existed at least since the Early Oligocene, about 30 million years ago.

More in Animals

Monotypic taxonTaxonomic group with only one subordinate taxonSpecies descriptionFormal description of a discovered speciesParaphylyType of taxonomic groupIUCN Red ListInventory of the global conservation status of biological speciesSubtropicsGeographic and climate zoneCommon nameName generally used for a taxon, group of taxa or organism(s)