Polymixiiformes - Beardfishes

Polymixia is unique in having a palato-premaxillary ligament passing between maxillary lateral processes, rather than between contralateral palatines. Regardless of its precise phylogenetic position, it is one of the most plesiomorphic acanthomorph genera still extant.

Body moderately elongate and compressed; pair of hyoid barbels; dorsal fin continuous, with 4–6 spines and 26–38 soft rays; anal fin with four short
spines and 13–17 soft rays; pelvic fins subabdominal, with one spine-like ray and six soft rays; 16 branched caudal rays.

About 33–38 lateral-line scales.

Maximum length 38 cm.

Beardfishes usually occur between 180 and 640 m depth.

One genus, Polymixia, with 10 species.