family geographically widespread numerically abundant family fish inhabiting warm waters world named distinctive jaws lower jaws significantly longer upper jaws similar viviparous family included family commercially important forage fish support fisheries local markets worldwide fed commercially important predatory fishes sharks taxonomy scientifically describe described species far created genus classified gill erected family type genus comes greek meaning half meaning bill primarily marine found atlantic pacific indian oceans inhabit rivers confined region area running evolution fossil record extends lower earliest known italy apart differences length upper lower jaws recent fossil distinguished fusion pair upper bones plate phylogeny phylogeny state hand little question closely related families streamlined surface water fishes traditionally families taken comprise order considered form group hand recent studies demonstrated forming single group clade family actually includes number ancestral words traditionally defined family subfamily flying genus proved particularly problematic closer molecular evidence places genera form sister group family genera form clade clear placement closely related subfamily appears sister group based jaw apparatus sperm molecular evidence hypothesis awkward implications morphological evolution group understood fused plate considered reliably family furthermore existing theory juvenile pass developmental stage lower jaw longer upper jaw called stage theory fact unequal lengths upper lower jaws appears basal condition relatively derived comparison morphology streamlined fish adapted living open water grow centimeters case scales relatively large smooth easily detached spines fins distinguishing characteristic pair upper bones fused plate fish families lack stomach possess jaw apparatus mill species extended lower jaw juveniles feature lost fish mature example typical surface dwelling open water fish species darker lighter example tip lower jaw bright red orange species carry adaptations feeding water surface eyes nostrils head upper jaw mobile lower jaw combined streamlined shape concentration fins similar pike adaptations allow locate catch swallow food items effectively range habitat inhabit warm seas predominantly surface atlantic indian pacific oceans small number found species marine known continental coastlines extend western central pacific species endemic new_zealand worldwide marine genus ecology behavior feeding marine feeding algae marine plants invertebrates crustaceans smaller fishes subtropical species juveniles predatory adults tropical species feed animals day plants night species alternate summer winter turn eaten commercially important fish sharks key link levels behavior marine typically schooling forage fish southern sea example found sheltered bays coastal seas southern australia waters depth meters fish school near surface night swim closer sea floor day particularly beds genetic analysis different sub populations eastern sea south australian coastal waters reveals small consistent migration individuals theme sufficient genetically marine including known ability jump water surface considerable distances consequently called flying reproduction species external usually egg layers produce relatively small numbers fairly large eggs fish size typically shallow coastal waters meadows florida bay eggs typically diameter hatch grow diameter eggs slightly larger diameter unusually large hatch size relatively little known ecology juvenile marine habitats favored species southern sea grows rapidly attaining length years point growth species lives maximum age years point fish reach weigh relationship humans fisheries major target commercial fisheries small fisheries exist places example south_australia fisheries target southern sea eastern sea caught variety methods including dip lights night haul nets utilized fresh dried smoked considered good eating targeted fisheries tend secondary importance compared edible fish species significant bait fisheries exist supply sport fishermen study bait fishery florida targets suggests despite increases size fishery population stable annual catch valued
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