Veliferidae
Sailfin moonfishes are a small family, Veliferidae, of lampriform fishes found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. Unlike other lampriforms, they live in shallow, coastal waters, of less than depth, rather than in the deep ocean. They are also much smaller than most of their relatives, up to in length, and have deep, rather than elongated, bodies. They are characterised by their ability to retract the anterior rays of their dorsal and anal fins into a sheath. Species The two extant species in two genera are: Genus Metavelifer Walters, 1960 Metavelifer multiradiatus (Regan, 1907) Genus Velifer Temminck and Schlegel, 1850 Velifer hypselopterus Bleeker, 1879 Fossil record Nardovelifer, from the Campanian of Italy. Oechsleria unterfeldensis, from the lower Oligocene of the Bodenheim Formation, Germany. Veronavelifer, from the Eocene of Italy. Wettonius angeloi, from the Eocene of Italy. References Animal families