Polydactylus oxtonemus (Girard 1858; up to 23cm, some species up to 2m) is the extant Atlantic threadfin. Traditionally considered a perciform (perch family) here Polydactylus is shallows-dwelling relative of Gadus the cod. Note the five thread-like rays / feelers anterior to the pectoral fin arising from the coracoid. These drag along the sea floor sensing prey.
Coryphaenoides carapinus (Gunnerus 1765) is the extant rat tail, a deep sea fish with dorsal fins, anal fins and caudal fins merged into a straight tail. Like some sharks, the nasal extends beyond the premaxilla. The circumorbital series is robust.
Girard CF 1858. Notes upon various new genera and new species of fishes, in the museum of the Smithsonian Institution, and collected in connection with the United States and Mexican boundary survey: Major William Emory, Commissioner. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 10: 167-171.
Gunnerus JE 1765. Efterretning om Berglaxen, en rar Norsk fisk, som kunde kaldes: Coryphaenoides rupestris. Det Trondhiemske Selskabs Skrifter 3: 50-58.
