Dealfish

Dealfish (Trachypterus), a genus of deep-sea bony fishes, in the Ribbon-fish (q.v.) sub-order of Acanthopteri. As the name suggests, the elongated body is laterally compressed, and with the exception of a small separate anterior portion, the dorsal fin is continuous along the back. The tail fin is peculiar in being turned sharply upwards. The pectoral fins are well developed. The skeleton is very brittle. Some eight species are known, on European coasts and from the west of South America. They rarely come to the surface. One form (T. arcticus or boymarus, the vaagmaer of Icelanders and Norwegians) is occasionally found on North British coasts. It is a large fish, 4 to 6 feet in length, and of a silvery colour. The dorsal and caudal fins are red. A smaller species (T. tenia) occurs along with others in the Mediterranean.