Distribution:
North America (primarily Mackenzie, Saskatchewan, Mississippi, and St. Lawrence river systems).
Habitat:
Freshwater
Remarks:
The Mooneyes are found exclusively in North America in the backwaters of the large rivers and lakes. Their most striking external features are their large eyes with gold-silver irises. Mooneyes only have rods in their retinas (no cones) and possess a moderately long anal fin (23-33 rays), a forked caudal fin, and 7-10 branchiostegal rays. The lateral scales are approximately 54-61.These nocturnal feeders can grow to a maximum length of 51 cm.
This family consists of five genera with 8 species.
References: Nelson 2006; Moyle and Cech, Jr. 2000; Helfman et al. 1997