10/7 LJ AM

[madscientist]

I tried to find a pic of a saury with no luck, but the descriptions sound close. Seems they glide out of the water when chased similar to flying fish. There seems to be some arguement as to precisely which branch of the fish tree they are on, but they seem close to flying fish and needle fish.

Phylogeny and Jaw Ontogeny of Beloniform Fishes1
Issn: 1540-7063 Journal: Integrative and Comparative Biology Volume: 44 Issue: 5 Pages: 366-377
Authors: Lovejoy, Nathan R., Iranpour, Mahmood, Collette, Bruce B.
DOI: 10.1043/1540-7063(2004)044<0366:PAJOOB>2.0.CO;2

ABSTRACT

To investigate jaw evolution in beloniform fishes, we reconstructed the phylogeny of 54 species using fragments of two nuclear (RAG2 and Tmo-4C4) and two mitochondrial (cytochrome b and 16S rRNA) genes. Our total molecular evidence topology refutes the monophyly of needlefishes (Belonidae) and halfbeaks (Hemiramphidae), but supports the monophyly of flyingfishes (Exocoetidae) and sauries (Scomberesocidae). Flyingfishes are nested within halfbeaks, and sauries are nested within needlefishes. Optimization of jaw characters on the tree reveals a diverse array of evolutionary changes in ontogeny.

Apparently, they are delicious. At least in the hands of an Iron Chef.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show..._20490,00.html

Pretty interesting.