# Sweeper

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{{Short description|Family of ray-finned fishes}}
{{About|the fish}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Pempheridae
| image = glassy sweepers.jpg
| image_caption = [Glassy sweeper](/source/Glassy_sweeper)s ''(Pempheris schomburgkii)''
| taxon = Pempheridae
| authority = [Bleeker](/source/Pieter_Bleeker), 1859<ref name = VDLEF>{{cite journal | author1 = Richard van der Laan | author2 = William N. Eschmeyer | author3 = Ronald Fricke | name-list-style = amp |year=2014 | title = Family-group names of Recent fishes | url = https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3882.1.1/10480 | journal = Zootaxa | volume = 3882 | issue =2 | pages = 001–230}}</ref>
| subdivision_ranks = [Genera](/source/Genus)
| subdivision = seetext
}}

'''Sweepers''' are small, tropical marine (occasionally [brackish](/source/brackish)) [ray-finned fish](/source/ray-finned_fish) of the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) '''Pempheridae'''. Found in the western [Atlantic Ocean](/source/Atlantic_Ocean) and [Indo-Pacific](/source/Indo-Pacific) region, the family contains about 80 [species](/source/species) in two [genera](/source/genus).<ref>{{Cite web |title=FAMILY Details for Pempheridae - Sweepers |url=https://fishbase.mnhn.fr/summary/FamilySummary.php?ID=334 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=fishbase.mnhn.fr |language=en}}</ref> One species (''Pempheris xanthoptera'') is the target of subsistence [fisheries](/source/fishery) in [Japan](/source/Japan), where the fish is much enjoyed for its taste. Sweepers are occasionally kept in marine aquaria.

== Description ==
Deeply keeled, compressed bodies and large eyes typify sweepers, their form somewhat like [hatchetfish](/source/Freshwater_hatchetfish); both cycloid and ctenoid [scale](/source/scale_(zoology))s may be present. The small, short [dorsal fin](/source/dorsal_fin) begins before the body's midpoint and may have four to seven spines; the [anal fin](/source/anal_fin) is extensive and usually has three spines. The mouth is subterminal and strongly oblique. Species of the genus ''[Parapriacanthus](/source/Parapriacanthus)'' have much more cylindrical bodies.

Some species possess [photophore](/source/photophore)s. All but the curved sweeper (''[Pempheris poeyi](/source/Pempheris_poeyi)'') possess a [gas bladder](/source/gas_bladder). The largest species is the common bullseye (''[Pempheris multiradiata](/source/Pempheris_multiradiata)'') at {{convert|28|cm|in|abbr=on}} long; most other species measure {{convert|16|cm|in|abbr=on}} or less. Colouration is relatively subdued.

== Behaviour ==
[[File:glassfish.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Red Sea dwarf sweepers (''[Parapriacanthus guentheri](/source/Parapriacanthus_guentheri)'')]]

Characteristically shallow water, schooling fish (especially as juveniles), sweepers are [nocturnal](/source/nocturnal) and seek shelter under ledges or in the caves, nooks, and crannies of [reef](/source/reef)s or eroded, rocky shorelines during the day. They are often found sharing these hiding places with [cardinalfish](/source/cardinalfish)es and [bigeye](/source/bigeye)s, also nocturnal species. At night, sweepers forage for [zooplankton](/source/zooplankton), their primary food.

At least one species, the [small-scale bullseye](/source/small-scale_bullseye) (''Pempheris compressa'') of Australia, is known to enter coastal [estuaries](/source/estuary) whilst young.

==Genera==
The following genera are classified within the family Pempheridae:<ref name = CoFF>{{Cof family|family=Pempheridae|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{FishBase family | family = Pempheridae| month = February | year = 2014}}</ref>

* ''[Parapriacanthus](/source/Parapriacanthus)'' <small>[Steindachner](/source/Franz_Steindachner), 1870</small>
* ''[Pempheris](/source/Pempheris)'' <small>[Cuvier](/source/Georges_Cuvier), 1829</small>

==References==
{{Commons category|Pempheridae}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1362711}}

Category:Pempheridae
Category:Taxa named by Pieter Bleeker

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sweeper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweeper) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweeper?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.