Ribbon-fish

Ribbon-fish, a name given to several genera of Acanthopterous fishes having the body much compressed and band-like, the dorsal fin extending the whole length of the back, the anterior rays being long and distinct, the skeleton soft, and the skin naked and silvery. They are true deep-sea fishes, and are widely distributed, though nowhere abundant. Some authorities divide them into two groups—the Trachypteridae, having long ventral fins, and occasionally attaining to a length of 10 feet, with a thickness of scarcely an inch; and the Regalecidae, with the ventral fins represented by single, oar-like filaments. The best-known species is Regalecus banksii, the Dealfish (q.v.).