Flashlightfishes Roughies and Squirrelfishes: Beryciformes - Physical Characteristics

Roughies, flashlightfishes, and squirrelfishes are spiny-rayed fishes 3 to 24 inches (8 to 61 centimeters) long. Some have colorful scales. Squirrelfishes and soldierfishes are reddish orange from head to forked tail. Flashlightfishes have a glowing organ under each eye. Pineapplefishes and pineconefishes have large, beautiful scales. Usually yellow, each scale has its own dark outline, which makes the fish look armored. These fishes also have spines poking backward from each scale. Orange roughies have mucus cavities just beneath the skin of the head. Sometimes they are called slimeheads.