Mooneye

Mooneye
Mooneyes
Hiodon tergisus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Hiodontiformes
Taverne, 1979
Family: Hiodontidae
Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1846
Genus: Hiodon
Lesueur, 1818
Species
  • Hiodon alosoides
  • Hiodon tergisus
  • Hiodon consteniorum
  • Hiodon rosei[1]
  • Hiodon woodruffi[1]
Synonyms

Eohiodon Cavender, 1966[1]

The mooneyes are a family, the Hiodontidae, of primitive ray-finned fish comprising two living and three extinct[1] species in the genus Hiodon. They are large-eyed, fork-tailed fish that physically resemble shads. Their common name comes from the metallic gold or silver shine of their eyes.

The higher classification of the mooneyes is not as yet fully established. Some sources place them in their own Order - Hiodontiformes (as in the treatment here), while others retain them in the order Osteoglossiformes.

Contents

Hiodon tergisus

Mooneye caught in Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario

The mooneye (Hiodon tergisus Lesueur, 1818) is widespread across North America, living in the clear waters of lakes, ponds, and rivers. It consumes aquatic invertebrates, insects, and fish. Mooneyes can reach 47 centimetres (19 in) in length.

Mooneyes feed readily on terrestrial insects, and will provide fine sport for an intrepid flyrod angler. They will also take small lures and natural baits with gusto. Mooneyes are frantic, hyperactive fish and their impressive leaps and passionate fighting style has earned them the nickname "Freshwater Tarpon". They are also a main food source for seagulls.

Hiodon alosoides

The goldeye (Hiodon alosoides (Rafinesque, 1819)) is also widespread across North America, and is notable for a conspicuous golden iris in the eyes. It prefers turbid slower-moving waters of lakes and rivers, where it feeds on insects, crustaceans, fish, frogs, shrews, and mice. The fish has been reported up to 52 centimetres (20 in) in length. The smoked meat is highly valued and sold as "Winnipeg goldeye".

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hilton, E. J. & Grande, L. 2008; "Fossil Mooneyes (Teleostei: Hiodontiformes, Hiodontidae) from the Eocene of western North America, with a reassessment of their taxonomy" in "Birth of the modern world: the Tertiary" Geological Society, London, Special Publications 295:221-251

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • mooneye — /moohn uy /, n., pl. mooneyes. 1. Vet. Pathol. an eye of a horse affected with moon blindness. 2. any silvery, herringlike fish of the family Hiodontidae, esp. Hiodon tergisus, found in fresh waters from Hudson Bay to the lower Mississippi,… …   Universalium

  • mooneye — /ˈmunaɪ/ (say moohnuy) noun 1. (plural mooneye or mooneyes) a freshwater fish, Hiodon tergisus, of central North America with large eyes. 2. Veterinary Science an eye of a horse affected with moon blindness. Usage: For variation in the plural… …  

  • mooneye — upinė mėnulakė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Hiodon tergisus angl. mooneye; notch finned hiodon rus. луноглазка; серебристый гиодон ryšiai: platesnis terminas – mėnulakės …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • mooneye — noun Date: 1842 a silvery North American freshwater bony fish (Hiodon tergisus of the family Hiodontidae) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • mooneye — noun A primitive ray finned fish of the family Hiodontidae …   Wiktionary

  • mooneye — n. North American silvery freshwater fish with big eyes; moon blindness, loss of vision in horses occurring at regular intervals; …   English contemporary dictionary

  • mooneye — moon•eye [[t]ˈmunˌaɪ[/t]] n. pl. eyes ich a large eyed silvery freshwater fish Hiodon tergisus[/ex] • Etymology: 1600–10 …   From formal English to slang

  • mooneye — noun recurrent eye inflammation in horses; sometimes resulting in blindness • Syn: ↑moon blindness • Hypernyms: ↑animal disease …   Useful english dictionary

  • mooneye cisco — noun : bloater III 2 …   Useful english dictionary

  • shad mooneye — vinipeginė auksaakė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Hiodon alosoides angl. goldeye; shad mooneye; toothed herring rus. золотоглазка; сельдевидный гиодон ryšiai: platesnis terminas – mėnulakės …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

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