Veliferidae

Sailfin moonfishes are a small family, Veliferidae, of lampriform fishes found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. Unlike other lampriforms, they live in shallow, coastal waters, of less than depth, rather than in the deep ocean. They are also much smaller than most of their relatives, up to in length, and have deep, rather than elongated, bodies. They are characterised by their ability to retract the anterior rays of their dorsal and anal fins into a sheath.

Velifer is an Indo-Pacific genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Veliferidae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Velifer hypselopterus, the sailfin velifer. This species grows to a length of total length and is of minor importance in commercial fisheries.

Nardovelifer altipinnis is the oldest known lamprid fish. It dates from the Campanian age of Nardò, Italy.