Oceanic basslets explained

The oceanic basslets are ray-finned fish that belong to the small family Howellidae within the order Acropomatiformes. The family includes about 9 species. They are mostly deep-water species, some of which move to shallower waters at night. Various species are found in the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, including the Coral Sea, and Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea.^[1]

Genera

The following three genera are classified as part of the Howellidae:

• Bathysphyraenops Parr, 1933
• Howella Ogilby, 1899
• Pseudohowella Fedoryako, 1976

The potential fossil genus Praegaleagra David, 1946 is known from isolated scales from the Late Eocene of California.^[2]

Further reading

• Prokofiev, A. M. (2007). The osteology of Bathysphyraenops symplex and the diagnosis of the Howellidae (Perciformes: Percoidei) family. Journal of Ichthyology 47(8), 566–578.

Notes and References

1. http://www.animalspot.net/basslet.html "Basslets" at AnimalSpot web site
2. David . Lorre R. . 1946 . Some Typical Upper Eogene Fish Scales from California . Contributions to Paleontology . IV.