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HIERARCHICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE CLASS OSTEICHTHYES

HIERARCHICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE CLASS OSTEICHTHYES

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CLASS OSTEICHTHYES LINKS

Description of Class

The following descriptions come from Barton (2007), Benton (2005), Helfman et al. (1997), Moyle and Cech (2003), Nelson (2006), Paxton and Eschmeyer (1998), and Pough et al. (2009). The structure of the following system is also based, in part, on the phylogenetic treatment by Mikko’s Phylogeny Web (from the Finnish Museum of Natural History). Taxa in red are extinct.

CLASS OSTEICHTHYES

  • The bony fishes generally have paired pectoral and pelvic fins with two main clades: the ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) and the lobed finned fishes (Sarcopterygii).
  • The bony fishes appeared in the late Silurian and survive to the present where they are the dominant aquatic vertebrates.
  • MAJOR GROUPS OF EXTANT OSTEICHTHYES
  • ACTINOPTERYGII (RAY-FINNED FISHES)
  • CLADISTIA (POLYPTERUS)
  • CHONDROSTEI (STURGEONS AND PADDLEFISHES)
  • NEOPTERYGII (GARS, AMIAFORMES+ MODERN BONY FISHES)
    • THE HALECOSTOMI (HALICOMORPHII + TELEOSTEI)
    • THE TELEOSTEI (FISH WITH HOMOCERCAL TAILS)
      • OSTEOGLOSSOMORPHA (THE BONYTONGUES)
      • ELOPOMORPHA (EELS AND THEIR RELATIVES)
      • OTOCEPHALA (HERRINGS AND CARP)
      • CLUPEOMORPHA (HERRINGS AND SHAD)
      • OSTARIOPHYSI (CARP AND CATFISHES)
    • EUTELEOSTEI (SALMON, PIKE, AND OTHER DERIVED TELEOSTS)
      • PROTACANTHOPTERYGII (PIKE AND SALMON)
      • STENOPTERYGII (DRAGONFISHES)
      • ATELEOPODOMORPHA (JELLY-NOSE FISHES)
      • CYCLOSQUAMATA (LIZARDFISHES)
      • SCOPELOMORPHA (LANTERNFISHES)
    • ACANTHOMORPHA (FISH WITH TRUE FIN SPINES IN THE DORSAL, ANAL, AND PELVIC FINS)
      • LAMPRIOMORPHA (OPAHS)
      • POLYMYXIOMORPHA (BEARDFISHES)
      • PARACANTHOPTERYGII (TROUT-PERCHES AND CODS)
      • ACANTHOPTERYGII
        • MUGILOMORPHA (MULLETS)
        • ATHERINOMORPHA (SILVERSIDES, KILLIFISHES)
        • PERCOMORPHA (MOST DERIVED GROUP; PELVIC AND PECTORAL GIRDLES ATTACHED)
  • SARCOPTERYGII (LOBE-FINNED FISHES)
    • ACTINISTIA (COELOCANTHS)
    • DIPNOI (LUNGFISHES)
  • INCERTAE SEDIS: PSAROLEPIS+
    • Psarolepis shows characters consistent with both the ray-finned and lobe-finned fishes.
    • (Upper Silurian and lower Devonian). See Zhu et al. (1999), Zhu and Schultze (2001).
  • SUBCLASS ACTINOPTERYGII
    • The ray-finned fishes.
    • ORDER CHEIROLEPIDIFORMES+
      • FAMILY CHEIROLEPIDIDAE
      • Slender and long with heterocercal tail. Scales of bone, dentine and enamel are interlocking. Leading edge of tail covered by larger scales. Teeth on maxilla, premaxilla, and dentary bones. Fast swimmer, powerful predator. (~25cm).
      • Middle Devonian
      • FAMILY CHEIROLEPIDAE
      • Cheirolepis.
    • ORDER CLADISTIA (Nelson, 2006, treats this as a subclass)
      • Ganoid scales, body round in x-section. Tail rounded.
      • FAMILY GILDAYICHTHYIDAE+
      • Small, eel-like.
      • Middle Carboniferous
      • Paratarassius.
      • FAMILY POLYPTERIDAE
      • Called the bichir, it has a row of spine-supported fins down the back. Freshwater from rivers and lakes in central Africa.
      • Middle Cretaceous to present.
      • Polypterus, Erpetoichthys; Dagatella+, Latinopollis+, Pollia+, Sainthilairia+, Serenoichthys+.
    • ORDER ACTINOPTERI+
      • Likely paraphyletic group of families.
      • FAMILY MIMIIDAE
      • Mimia
      • FAMILY STEGOTRACHELIDAE
      • Upper Devonian
      • Moythomasia.
      • FAMILY PTYCHOLEPIDIDAE
      • Triassic to Lower Jurassic
      • Ptycholepis.
      • FAMILY AMBLYPTERIDAE
      • Carboniferous to Permian
    • ORDER PALAEONISCIFORMES+
      • Additional supraorbitals and a keystone-shaped dermosphenotic; eyes large and far forward; tail heterocercal (dorsal lobe becoming less reduced in later forms).
      • Mississippian to lower Jurassic.
      • Unassigned Genus: Coccolepis.
      • SUBORDER PALEONISCOIDEI
        • Heterogeneous group of primitive palaeoniscids.
        • Devonian.
        • FAMILY AEDUELLIDAE
        • FAMILY ACROLEPIDAE
        • Acrolepis, Boreosomus, Pteronisculus.
        • FAMILY AMBLYPTERIDAE
        • Amblypterus, Paramblypterus.
        • FAMILY BIRGERIIDAE
        • Fish very large; massive jaws and teeth.
        • Triassic to lower Jurassic.
        • Birgeria, Canobius.
        • FAMILY COMMENTRYIDAE
        • FAMILY ELONCHTHYIDAE
        • FAMILY PALEONISCIDAE
        • FAMILY PYGOPTERIDAE
        • FAMILY RHABDOLEPIDAE
        • Osorioichthys.
        • FAMILY RHADINICHTHYIDAE
        • FAMILY AESOPICHTHYIDAE
        • FAMILY STEGOTRACHELIDAE
        • Stegotrachelus, Tegeolepis.
      • SUBORDER REDFIELDOIDEI
        • Bodies fusiform; mouth terminal or subterminal; dorsal and anal fins far back and opposite each other; reduced branchiostegal rays.
        • Triassic to lower Jurassic; freshwater
        • FAMILY REDFIELDIIDAE
        • Characteristically modified snout and orbit; common in Triassic freshwater lake deposits.
        • Redfieldius, Brookvalia, Dictyopyge, Helichthys, Schizurichthys.
      • SUBORDER PLATYSOMOIDEI
        • Body deep and compressed.
        • Mississippian to lower Triassic. (Marine and freshwater)
        • FAMILY BONASTRANIIDAE
        • FAMILY CHIRODONTIDAE
        • FAMILY PLATYSOMIDAE
      • SUBORDER DORYPTEROIDEI
        • Body deep and without scales; pelvic fin in front of pectorals; caudal peduncle narrow.
        • Carboniferous to upper Permian.
        • FAMILY DORYPTERIDAE
        • Similar to the amphycentrids.
        • Permian
        • Dorypterus.
        • FAMILY AMPHICENTRIDAE
        • Deep bodied laterally compressed fishes. Dorsal and anal fins long; mouth modified into a beak with crushing teeth.
        • Carboniferous.
        • Amphicentrum.
    • ORDER TARRASIIFORMES+
      • Dorsal and anal fins continuous with the diphycercal tail; no pelvic fins; scales reduced or absent; body elongate; pectoral fins with fleshy lobes.
      • Mississippian
      • FAMILY TARRASIIDAE
      • ORDER GUILDAYICHTHYIFORMES+
      • Body very compressed and discoid; ganoid scales with peg and socket joints.
      • Mississippian (Marine)
      • FAMILY GUILDAYICHTHYIDAE
      • Guildayichthys, Discoserra.
    • ORDER PHANERORHYNCHIFORMES+
      • Body very much like sturgeon.
      • Pennsylvanian.
      • Phanaerorhynchus.
    • ORDER ACIPENSERIFORMES
      • Sturgeons. Caudal fin heterocercal; skeleton cartilaginous; intestine with spiral valve.
      • SUBORDER UNNAMED+
        • Upper Jurassic.
        • FAMILY PEIPIAOSTEIDAE
        • Peipiaosteus, Stichopterus, Spherosteus, Yanosteus.
      • SUBORDER CHONDROSTEOIDEI+
        • Mouth subterminal
        • Jurassic (Europe)
        • FAMILY CHONDROSTEIDAE
        • Chondrosteus, Strongylosteus, Gyrosteus.
      • SUBORDER ACIPENSEROIDEI
        • No opercule (cover made of sub opercule); long rostrum. Sturgeons are large fish of the northern hemisphere. The skeleton is poorly ossified and the scales are reduced to a single row of bony plates down each side. Anadromous and freshwater.
        • Upper Cretaceous to present.
        • FAMILY ACIPENSERIDAE
        • Acipenser, Huso, Pseudoscaphirhynchus, Scaphirhynchus.
        • Protoscaphirhynchus+.
        • FAMILY POLYODONTIDAE
        • Paddlefish are large riverine fishes with a large paddle-like extensions of the rostrum. Poorly ossified skeleton. They feed by filtering plankton. Extant species in Mississippi and Yangtze drainages.
        • Lower Cretaceous to present.
        • Polyodon, Psephurus.
        • Protopsephurus+, Paleopsephurus+, Crossopholis+.
    • ORDER PTYCHOLEPIFORMES+
      • Triassic to Jurassic. (North America).
    • ORDER SAURICHTHYIFORMES+
      • Fish body long (up to 1 m) very similar to pike and likely an ambush predator, too.
      • Triassic to Jurassic.
      • FAMILY SAURICHTHYIDAE
      • Saurichthyes, Acidorhynchus.
    • ORDER PHOLIDOPLEURIFORMES+
      • Fishes slender with large rectangular scales on the sides.
      • Middle Triassic.
      • FAMILY PHOLIDOPLEURIDAE
      • Pholidopleurus, Australosomus.
    • ORDER PERLEIDIFORMES+
      • Tail fin rays nearly equal above and below. Nelson (2006) refers to this as an artificial collection of families.
      • Triassic to lower Jurassic
      • Perleidus, Cleithrolepis, Aetheodontus, Dipteronotus, Meridensia, Peltopterus, Habroichthys, Thoracopterus.
      • Families include:
      • FAMILY CEPHALOXENIDAE
      • FAMILY COLOBODONTIDAE
      • FAMILY PLATYSIAGIDAE
      • FAMILY PELTOPLEURIDAE
      • FAMILY CLEITHROLEPIDAE
      • FAMILY PERLEIDIDAE
      • ORDER LUGANOIIFORMES
      • Triassic.
      • Luganoia.
  • THE NEOPTERYGII
    • ORDER LEPIDOSTEIFORMES (GIMGLYMODI?)
    • FAMILY LEPISOSTEIDAE
      • Gars. Freshwater; eastern North America, Central America, and Cuba. Gars have elongate bodies that are round in cross section. The tail is nearly symmetrical and has long, needle-like jaws with many sharp teeth. Scales rhomboid.
      • Cretaceous to the present.
      • Lepisosteus, Atractosteus.
      • Masillosteus+, Obaichthys+, Oniichthys+.
    • ORDER SEMIONOTIFORMES+
      • FAMILY SEMIONOTIDAE (LEPIDOTIDAE)
      • Fishes small; symmetrical tails; large dorsal and ventral fins short; jaws project well forward.
      • Upper Triassic to Cretaceous.
      • Semionotus, Lepidotes, Paralepidotus, Acentrophorus.
      • FAMILY DAPEDIDAE
      • Similar to the semiontids; they are deep-bodied with long anal and dorsal fins.
      • Upper Triassic to lower Jurassic (Marine and freshwater deposits of North America, Europe, India).
      • Dapedium.
    • ORDER MACROSEMIIFORMES+
      • FAMILY MACROSEMIIDAE
      • Small fishes with a high dorsal fin. They have unusual bones around the eye.
      • Triassic to lower Cretaceous (Europe and Mexico)
      • Macrosemius.
  • THE HALECOSTOMI –clade that includes the Halicomorphi and the Teleostei. Nelson (2006) treats this as an order within the Neopterygii.
    • ORDER PYCNODONTIFORMES+
      • Incertae Sedis according to Nelson (2006). Placed in the Halicostomi by Poyato-Ariza and Wenz (2002).
      • Deep bodied fish with long dorsal and anal fins and a true homocercal tail. An elongate snout with crushing teeth.
      • Triassic to Eocene. Reefs and lagoons of the Tethys Sea. Eight families according to Nelson (2006); relationships inferred from Poyato-Ariza and Wenz (2002).
      • SUBORDER UNNAMED
        • Primitive pycnodontiform fishes.
        • FAMILY UNNAMED
        • Paramesturus.
        • FAMILY GYRODONTIDAE
        • Central papilla on vomerine and prearticular teeth; sagittal flanges on neural and haemal spines.
        • Gyrodus.
        • FAMILY MESTURIDAE
        • Primitive family; maxilla ornamented and elongate; ridges on vomerine and prearticular teeth; first dorsal ridge scale larger than other dorsal ridge scales.
        • Mesturus, Micropicnodon.
        • FAMILY UNNAMED
        • Arduafrons.
        • FAMILY BREMBODONTIDAE
        • Three premaxillary teeth; eight or nine teeth on the vomer; fringing fulcra onpaired and unpaired fins; 10-14 dorsal ridge scales; 6 or fewer postcloacal ventral keel scales.
        • Brembodus, Gibbodon (Nelson, 2006, separates this genus into its own family, Gibbodontidae).
      • SUBORDER PYCNODONTOIDEI
        • Opercular process of the hyomandibular absent; crenulations on vomerine and prearticular teeth weak or absent.; scales not covering whole body and absent between the bases of the unpaired fins.
        • FAMILY UNNAMED
        • Eomesodon, Apomesodon.
        • FAMILY COCCODONTIDAE
        • Six to eight epichordal elements in the tail; hypochordal elements enlarged in the tail; first dorsal ridge scale larger than the subsequent scales; three or fewer ventral keel scales.
        • Coccodus, Trewavasia, Ichthyoceros.
        • FAMILY PYCNODONTIDAE
        • Have a parietal peniculus-like structure, no suborbitals, cheeks naked, maxilla edentulous, 2-3 dentary teeth, scales weakly ossified; spines on ventral keel scales touching.
        • Macromesodon, Stenamara, Stemmatodus, Anomoeodus, Ocloedus, Tepexichthys.
        • Porscinites, Iemanja, Coelodus.
        • Pycnodus, Oropycnodus.
        • Nursallia, Abdobalistum, Paleobalistum.
        • Poyato-Ariza and Wenz (2002) do not consider the following taxa to be members of this order. Presently, they occupy a position of Incertae Sedis.
        • FAMILY HADRODONTIDAE
        • Hadrodus.
    • ORDER HALECOMORPHI (AMIIFORMES)
      • Bowfins. These fish have a special jaw joint formed by an additional element called the symplectic. Usually freshwater.
      • FAMILY AMIIDAE
      • Amia.
      • Amiopsis+, Calamopleurus+, Cyclurus+, Solnhofenamia+, Vidalamia+.
      • FAMILY PARASEMIODONTIDAE+
      • Small fish with large eyes and a jaw like the neopterigyians. Usually marine.
      • Triassic.
      • Parasemionotus, Watsonulus.
  • THE TELEOSTEI – Diverse clade of fishes that have homocercal tails. The vertebrae do not run into the upper lobe of the tail. Teleosts also have a moveable premaxilla.
    • THE BASAL TELEOST GROUPS
    • ORDER PACHYCORMIFORMES +
      • Nelson (2006) excludes this group from the teleosts. Here it is considered to be one of the basal groups.
      • FAMILY PACHYCORMIDAE
      • Most well known members were very large, scaleless filter-feeders, much like the paddlefish of today. Likewise, it had a large filtering basket made from modified gill components. No pelvic fins.
      • Jurassic to upper Cretaceous
      • Leedsichthyes, Asthenocormus, Euthynotus, Hypsocormus, Orthocormus, Pachycormus, Prosauropsis, Protosphyraena.
    • ORDER ASPIDORHYNCHOFORMES+
      • Position is uncertain in the system of Nelson (2006) in which it does not occupy a position within the Teleostei; howeverBrito (1999) presents compelling evidence that the tail skeleton is that of a teleost.
      • FAMILY ASPIDORHYNCHIDAE
      • Round bodied fishes with upper part of the skull extended into a long pointed snout; interoperculum absent; dorsal and anal fins opposite each other. Mostly marine; up to 1m.
      • Upper Jurassic to Cretaceous
      • Aspidorhynchus, Belonostomus, Vinctifer.
    • ORDER PHOLIDOPHORIFORMES+
      • FAMILY PHOLIDOPHORIDAE
      • Generally small hunting fishes. Besides the premaxilla, the had a dermethmoid as an additional tooth-bearing bone.
      • Upper Triassic to lower Triassic
      • Eurycormus.
      • The order has four other families according to Nelson (2006): Archaeomaenidae, Ichthyokentemidae, Oligopleuridae, Pleuropholidae.
    • ORDER LEPTOLEPIDOFORMES+
      • FAMILY LEPTOLEPIDIDAE
      • Small fish with cycloid scales. Their vertebrae were fully ossified. Likely marine.
      • Triassic to Cretaceous
      • Varasichthyes.
    • ORDER TSELFATIIFORMES+
      • This group occupies an uncertain position; Fish with deep bodies; dorsal fin along most of the back; pectoral fins high on the body; pelvic fins absent or reduced; caudal fin deeply forked; palate toothed.
      • Cretaceous.
      • FAMILY PLETHODIDAE
      • Plethodus.
      • FAMILY PROTOBRAMIDAE
      • Abisaadichthys, Eusebichthys, Protobrama.
      • FAMILY TSELFATIIDAE
      • Tselfatia.
    • ORDER ICHTHYODECTIFORMES+
      • Nelson (2006) considers this group to be basal in the Osteoglossomorpha. Anal fin long and opposite the dorsal fin. Most were marine and predators. At least one genus grew to 4m long.
      • Middle Jurassic to upper Cretaceous.
      • FAMILY ALLOTHRISSOPIDAE
      • Upper Jurassic to upper Cretaceous
      • Allothrissops, Pachythrissops, Tharsis, Eubiodectes, Thrissops.
      • FAMILY OCCITHRISSOPIDAE
      • Middle Jurassic
      • Occithrissops.
      • FAMILY CLADOCYCLIDAE
      • Cretaceous.
      • Cladocyclus, Chiromystus, Cladocyclus, Chirocentrites.
      • FAMILY SAURODONTIDAE
      • Cretaceous.
      • Saurodon, Saurocephalus.
      • FAMILY ICHTHYODECTIDAE
      • Very large predators (>4m long)
      • Cretaceous
      • Gillicus, Ichthyodectus, Xiphactinus.
  • OSTEOGLOSSOMORPHA –BONY-TONGUED TELEOSTS
    • Most of these taxa exhibit some type of parental care for the young.
    • ORDER LYCOPTERIFORMES+
      • Considered sister to all extant Osteoglossomorpha.
      • Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous.
      • FAMILY LYCOPTERIDAE
      • Lycoptera.
    • ORDER HIODONTIFORMES
      • Mooneyes. This group was recently separated from the Osteoglossiformes (Hilton 2003). Freshwater; North America in major river systems; Mackenzie, Saskatchewan, Mississippi, and St. Lawrence.
      • Eocene to present.
      • FAMILY HIODONTIDAE
      • Anal fin long and not joining the tail; distinct pelvic fins. Up to 0.5m long.
      • Hiodon, Eohiodon+.
    • ORDER OSTEOGLOSSIFORMES
      • Southern Hemispheric distribution. Small fish of fresh water. They bite using teeth on a bony tongue and elements on the roof of the mouth.
      • Upper Jurassic to present.
      • FAMILY OSTEOGLOSSIDAE
      • Bonytongues. Carnivores or omnivores of freshwater. Circumtropical; South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia. Maxilla toothed; pelvic fins behind base of the pectoral fins; some can make use of atmospheric oxygen.
      • Eocene to present.
      • Osteoglossum, Scleropages, Pantodon, Arapaima, Heterotis, Phareodus+, Brychaetus+.
      • FAMILY PANTODONTIDAE
      • Butterflyfishes
      • FAMILY NOTOPTERIDAE
      • Featherfin Knifefishes or Old World Knifefishes. Freshwater, rarely brackish, Africa to Southeast Asia. Anal fin long and combined with the reduced caudal fin; dorsal fin absent or very reduced; pectoral fins absent to reduced; subopercular absent. Some large (up to 1.5m).
      • Chilata, Notopterus, Papyrocranus, Xenomystus.
      • FAMILY MORMYRIDAE
      • Elephantfishes. Freshwater; tropical Africa and Nile River system. Anal, caudal and pelvic fins present and distinct; caudal fin with deep fork; mouth variable but usually elongate; some with barbels; some may detect objects by generating weal electric fields; very large cerebellum; small eyes; electric organ bycaudal muscles.
      • Mormyrus, Brienomyrus, Campylomormyus, Gnathonemus, Hippopotamyrus, Hyperopsis, Marcusenius, Mormyrops, Petrocephalus, Pollimyrus, Stomatorhinus.
      • FAMILY GYMNARCHIDAE
      • Aba. Freshwater; tropical Africa and Nile system. Anal, caudal, and pelvic fins absent; teeth absent from parasphenoid and tongue. Up to 1.5m.
      • Gymnarchus.
      • FAMILY ARARIPICHTHYIDAE+
      • Body deep; dorsal and anal fins long; pelvic fins absent; pectoral fins attached low on body; caudal fin forked.
      • Lower Cretaceous of Brazil
      • Araripichthys.
  • ELOPOMORPHA – EELS, TARPONS, & BONEFISH
    • Fish in this group produce larval forms that are ribbon-like (leptocephalus larva).
      • ORDER ANGUILLIFORMES (APODES)
      • Though quite variable in form, all members of this group have a distinctive leaf-like larva. Eels exhibit extreme modification of their bodies which includes loss of caudal fins, loss of ribs, loss of and fusion of many skull elements in addition to extreme elongation of the body. 15 families.
      • Lower Cretaceous to present.
        • SUBORDER ANGUILOIDEI
        • Frontals sutured.
          • FAMILY ANGUILLIDAE
          • Freshwater Eels. Catadromous; tropical and temperate seas. Minute scales; pectoral fins well developed.
          • Anguilla.
          • FAMILY HETERENCHELYIDAE
          • Mud Eels. Marine; tropical Atlantic (Mediterranian) and eastern Pacific. No pectoral fins; no scales; mouth large; dorsal fin begins over gills; animals burrow (head first).
          • Panturichthys, Pythonichthys.
          • FAMILY MORINGUIDAE
          • Spaghetti Eels. Marine; rarely freshwater; tropical; Indian, Pacific, and western Atlantic oceans. Body very elongate; no scales; dorsal and anal fins reduced to folds; pectoral fin very reduced; eyes small and covered with skin; animals burrow head first.
          • Moringua, Neoconger.
        • SUBORDER MURAENOIDEI
        • Frontals sutured; no scales; eyes not reduced.
          • FAMILY CHLOPSIDAE (XENOCONGRIDAE)
          • False Moray Eels. Marine; tropical and subtropical; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Gill openings reduced to small round holes; pectoral fins absent or reduced.
          • Boehlkenchelys, Catesbya, Chilorhinus, Chilopsis, Kaupichthys, Powellichthys, Robinsia, Xenoconger.
          • FAMILY MYROCONGRIDAE
          • Myroconger Eels. Marine; eastern tropical Atlantic. Gill openings small but not restricted; body compressed; pectoral fins present.
          • Myroconger.
          • FAMILY MURAENIDAE (HETEROMYRIDAE)
          • Moray Eels. Marine; tropical and temperate seas. Gill openings restricted; no pectoral fins; long fang-like teeth.
          • Gymnothorax, Sphyraena, Caranax, Mycertoperca, Lutjanus.
          • Anarchias, Channomuraena, Scuticaria, Uropterygius.
          • Echidna, Enchelycore, Enchelynassa, Gymnomuraena, Gymnothorax, Monopenchelys, Muraena, Rhinomuraena, Siderea, Strophidon, Thyrsoidea.
        • SUBORDER CONGROIDEI
        • Frontals fused; scales present in a few members of one of the nine families.
          • FAMILY SYNAPHOBRANCHIDAE
          • Cutthroat Eels. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Gill openings low on body; at or below insertion of pectoral fin (sometimes absent).
          • Arrowtooth Eels or Mustard Eels: Atractodenchelys, Dysommina, Ilyophis, Linkenchelys, Meadia, Thermobiotes.
          • Cutthroat Eels: Haptenchelys, Synaphobranchus.
          • Snubnose Parasitic Eel: Simenchelys.
          • FAMILY OPHICHTHIDAE
          • Snake Eels and Worm Eels. Marine (rarely freshwater); tongue not free; stiffened tail used to burrow tail-first (they move through the sediment both head and tail first); some very sharp-tailed.
          • Worm Eels: Benthenchelys, Ahlia, Asarcenchelys, Glenoglossa, Mixomyrophis, Muraenichthys, Myrophis, Neenchelys, Pseudomyrophis, Schismorhynchus, Schultzidia.
          • Snake Eels: Apterichtus, Bascanichthys, Caecula, Callechelys, Cirrhimuraena, Dalophis, Echelus, Echiophis, Ethadophis, Lamnostoma, Letharchus, Myrichthys, Mystriophis, Ophichthus, Phaenomonas, Pisodonophis, Yirrkala.
          • FAMILY COLOCONGRIDAE
          • Shorttail Eels. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific oceans. Body short and stubby, short ssnout; pectoral fins present; vomerine teeth absent.
          • Coloconger.
          • FAMILY DERICHTHYIDAE
          • Longneck Eels. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Body compressed laterally; pectoral fins present; dorsal fin begins behind pectoral fins.
          • Derichthys, Nessorhamphus.
          • FAMILY MURAENESOCIDAE
          • Pike Congers. Marine; tropical; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Teeth well developed, vomerine teeth present; pectoral fins well developed; eyes large and covered with skin; dorsal fin originates over or before pectorals.
          • Congresox, Cynoponticus, Muraenesox, Sauromuraenesox.
          • FAMILY NEMICHTHYIDAE
          • Snipe Eels. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Very long jaws that do not shut, upper jaw longer than lower; body very elongate; pectoral fin present; dorsal and anal fins continuous with caudal fin; eyes large. Males go through transformation by shortening jaws and losing teeth.
          • Avocettina, Labichthys, Nemichthys.
          • FAMILY CONGRIDAE
          • Conger Eels. Marine; tropical to temperate; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Pectoral fins present. This is a large, diverse family with three subfamilies, each described below.
          • Heterocongrinae (Garden Eels): Pectoral fins reduced or absent; body very long and slender; mouth short with longer lower jaw; they hover straight up above their burrows, which in a colony looks like a garden of eels.
          • Gorgasia, Heteroconger.
          • Bathymyrinae: Dorsal and anal fin rays unsegmented; pectoral fin well developed.
          • Ariosoma, Bathymyrus, Chiloconger, Parabathymyrus, Paraconger.
          • Congrinae: Dorsal and anal fins developed; pectoral fins well developed.
          • Acromycter, Conger, Gavialiceps, Gnathophis, Hildebrandia, Lumiconger, Macrocephenchelys, Rhechias, Rhynchoconger, Uroconger, Xenomystax.
          • FAMILY NETTASTOMIDAE
          • Duckbill Eels. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Enlarged, narrow mouth on enlarged head; tail coming to a point; pectoral fins absent (except in Hoplunnis); maximum length 1m.
          • Facciolella, Hoplunnis, Nettastoma, Nettenchelys, Saurenchelys, Venefica.
          • FAMILY SERRIVOMERIDAE
          • Sawtooth Eels. Marine; tropical to temperate; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Jaws very elongate, slender; vomerine teeth; usually black with silver sides.
          • Serrivomer, Stemonidium.
      • ORDER SACCOPHARYNGIFORMES
      • Sackpharynx Fishes. Highly derived fishes that lack the symplectic, opercular, branchiostegal rays, scales, pelvic fins, Pelvic fins, ribs, pyloric caeca, and swim bladder; caudal fin absent in most; anal fins long, and jaws elongate.
        • SUBORDER CYEMATOIDEI
          • FAMILY CYEMATIDAE
          • Bobtail Snipe Eels. Marine (bathypelagic); Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Body short, compressed; eye reduced or absent; caudal fin present; tip of tail blunt. Maximum length 15cm.
          • Cyema, Neocyema.
          • FAMILY SACCOPHYRINGIDAE
          • Swallowers. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Mouth very large; teeth curved; pectoral fins present; vomer and parasphenoid absent. Maximum length 2m.
          • Saccopharynx.
          • FAMILY EURYPHRYNGIDAE
          • Gulpers or Pelican Eels. Marine; tropical, temperate; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Only teleost with 5 gill arches and 6 visceral clefts; mouth very large; mouths with minute teeth; pectoral fins highly reduced. Maximum length 75cm.
          • Eurypharynx.
          • FAMILY MONOGNATHIDAE
          • Onejaw Gulpers. Marine; deep sea (>2,000m); Atlantic and Pacific. No upper jaw or pectoral fins; dorsal and anal fins without skeletal elements; rostral fang withglands. Maximum length 16cm.
          • Monognathus.
    • ORDER NOTACANTHIFORMES (ALBULIFORMES)
    • Bonefish, Halosaurs, Deep-Sea Spiny Eels. Mandibular sensory canal open and lying in the dentary and angular bones.
      • SUBORDER ALBULOIDEI
      • Body herring-like; upper jaw does not extend as far as the front of the eye; mouth inferior. Maximum length about 1m.
        • FAMILY ALBULIDAE
        • Bonefishes. Marine; tropical seas.
        • Albula, Istieus.
      • SUBORDER NOTACANTHOIDEI
      • Body eel-like; anal fin merged with the reduced tail.
        • FAMILY HALOSAURIDAE
        • Halosaurs. Deep sea and worldwide. No spines; lateral line extending length of the body.
        • Halosaurus, Halosauropsis, Aldrovandia, Echidnocephalus.
        • FAMILY NOTACANTHIDAE
        • Spiny Eels. Deep sea; worldwide. Dorsal fin extends beyond the anus; spine-like rays (up to 3) in each pelvic fin.
        • Lipogenys, Polycanthonotus, Notacanthus.
    • ORDER ELOPIFORMES
    • Tarpons and tenpounders. Body slender; pelvic fins in the middle of the body; caudal fin deeply forked; upper jaw extending past eye; mouth terminal or superior; larvae small.
      • FAMILY ELOPIDAE
      • Tenpounders (Ladyfishes). Marine (rarely brackish or freshwater); tropical and subtropical. Body not laterally compressed; pelvic fin below or posterior to dorsal fin. Maximum length 1m.
      • Elops.
      • FAMILY MEGALOPIDAE
      • Tarpons. Mainly marine; tropical or subtropical. Body compressed laterally; mouth terminal or superior. Maximum length 2.4m.
      • Megalops (=Tarpon)
  • OTOCEPHALA – HERRINGS AND CARP
  • This group includes the Clupeomorpha and the Ostariophysi.
    • ORDER CROSSOGNATHIFORMES+
    • Incertae Sedis with apparent affinities to both elopomorphs and otocephala, and likely sisters to the Otocephala (Nelson 2006). Marine fishes.
    • Cretaceous and one genus extending into the Eocene. Europe, North America, South America, Australia. Based on Taverne (1989).
      • SUBORDER CROSSOGNATHOIDEI
      • Premaxilla very small; palate without teeth; palatine long.
        • FAMILY CROSSOGNATHIDAE
        • Apsopelix, Crossognathus.
      • SUBORDER PACHYRHIZODONTOIDEI
      • No antorbitals
        • FAMILY NOTELOPIDAE
        • Notelops.
        • FAMILY PACHYRHIZONTIDAE
        • Elopopsis, Greenwoodella, Pachyrhizodontus, Pachyrhizodus, Platinx (extends into Eocene), Rhacolepis.
  • SUPERORDER CLUPEOMORPHA
  • These have a connection between the swim bladder and the inner ear. Many are armored with scutes both predorsal and ventral, a condition called double armored.
  • Upper Cretaceous to present (Lower Cretaceous?)
    • ORDER ELLIMMICHTHYIFORMES+
    • Connection between bladder and inner ear incomplete; patch of teeth on parasphenoid similar to Osteoglossum. Both dorsal and ventral scutes; some were deep bodied.
      • FAMILY PARACLUPEIDAE (ELLIMMICHTHYIDAE)
      • Lower Cretaceous to Middle Eocene; freshwater and marine.
      • Armigatus, Diplomystis, Sorbinichthys, Triplomystus, Paraclupea, Ellimma, Ellimmichthys.
    • ORDER CLUPEIFORMES
    • Herrings. Recessus lateralis (chamber in in which otophysic canal merges with other sensory canals) present; no parasphenoid teeth; no leptocephalus; planktivores with straining gill rakers.
      • SUBORDER DENTICIPITOIDEI
        • FAMILY DENTICIPITIDAE
        • Denticle Herrings. Freshwater; rivers of Nigeria and Cameroon. Denticles on all roofing bones of the skull; ventral half of head with furred appearance (small denticles). Maximum length 6cm.
        • Miocene to present.
        • Denticeps, Paleodenticeps+
      • SUBORDER CLUPEOIDEI
      • 19 fin caudal fin rays;
        • FAMILY PRISTIGASTERIDAE
        • Longfin Herrings. Mainly marine; a few freshwater forms in South America and Southeast Asia; tropical and subtropical seas; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Mouth superior or terminal; jaw teeth small (“canines” in one genus); pelvic fins present or absent. Most under 25cm.
        • Subfamily Pelloninae: Chirocentrodon, Ilisha, Neoopisthopterus, Pellona, Plioteostoma.
        • Subfamily Pristigasterinae: Odontognathus, Opisthopterus, Pristigaster, Raconda.
        • FAMILY ENGRAULIDAE
        • Anchovies. Marine (rarely freshwater); Atlantic, Indian, pacific oceans. Jaws extending well behind the eye; snout blunt; mostly planktivores. Maximum length 37cm.
        • Subfamily Coiliinae: Coilia, Lycothrissa, Papuengraulis, Setipinna, Thryssa.
        • Subfamily Engraulinae: Amazonsprattus, Anchoa, Anchovia, Anchoviella, Cetengraulis, Encrasicholina, Engraulis, Jurengraulis, Lycengraulis, Pterengraulis, Stolephorus.
        • FAMILY CHIROCENTRIDAE
        • Wolf Herring. Marine; Indian and western Pacific. Body elongate; fang-like jaw teeth; pelvic fins small. Voraceous carnivores. Maximim length 1m.
        • Upper Cretaceous to present.
        • Chirocentrus, Gastroclupea+.
        • FAMILY CLUPEIDAE
        • Herrings (Shads, Sprats, Sardines, Pilchards, Menhadens). Mostly marine; some freshwater and anadromous; global but mostly tropical. Mouth terminal; teeth small or absent. Maximum length 60cm.
        • Subfamily Dussumieriinae (Round Herrings): Pelvic scutes w-shaped: Dussumieria, Etrumeus, Jenkinsia, Stratelloides.
        • Subfamily Sundasalanginae (Sundaland Noodlefishes): Body transparent; scaleless; dorsal and anal fins posterior. Maximum length 28mm. Freshwater Borneo. Sundasalanx.
        • Subfamily Pellonulinae (Freshwater Herrings): pre and post pelvic scutes absent; mostly freshwater; most species in lakes and rivers of Africa.
        • Middle Paleocene to present: Clupeichthys, Clupeoides, Congothrissa, Cynothryssa, Ehirava, Hyperlophus, Limnothrissa, Microthrissa, Pellonula, Potamalosa, Potamothrissa, Spratellomorpha, Stolothrissa, Knightia+.
        • Subfamily Clupeinae (Sardines and Sprats): Amblygaster, Clupea, Clupeonella, Escualosa, Harengula, Herklotsichthys, Lile, Opisthonema, Sardina, Sardinella, Sardinops, Sprattus, Gosiutichthys+.
        • Subfamily Alosinae (Shads): Upper jaw with distinct notch, terminal: Alosa, Brevoortia, Ethmalosa, Ethmidium, Gudusia, Hilsa, Tenualosa.
        • Subfamily Dorosomatinae (Gizzard Shads): Upper jaw with notch, inferior: Anodontostoma, Clupanodon, Dorosoma, Gonialosa, Konosirus, Nematalosa.
  • SUPERORDER OSTARIOPHYSI
  • Dermopalatine absent; swim bladder present (usually two chambers); upper jaw protractile; pelvic fins abdominal. Fright reaction by release of a pheromone.
  • ANOTOPHYSI
    • ORDER GONORHYNCHIFORMES
    • Milkfishes. First three vertebrae specialized and associated with cephalic ribs (primitive Weberian apparatus); mouth small; jaws toothless.
      • SUBORDER CHANOIDEI
        • FAMILY CHANIDAE
        • Milkfishes. Marine and brackish; tropical and subtropical; Indian and Pacific oceans. Mouth cleft and small; no teeth in the jaws.
        • Subfamily Rubiesichthyinae+. Lower Cretaceous taxa: Gordichthys (Spain), Rubiesichthys (Spain).
        • Subfamily Chaninae: Body compressed; mouth not protractile. Lower Cretaceous to the present: Chanos, Dastilbe (South America), Parachanos (Africa), Tharrhias (Brazil).
      • SUBORDER GONORYNCHOIDEI
      • Beaked Sandfishes. Marine; Indian and Pacific oceans. Body long; mouth inferior; protractile jaw; single barbell; ctenoid scales; fins posterior.
      • Late Cretaceous to present (North America, Europe; Middle East).
      • Gonorynchus, Notogoneus+, Charitosomus+, Judeichthys, Ramallichthys+, Charitopsis+.
      • SUBORDER KNERIOIDEI
      • Swim bladder present and used in respiration in some species.
      • FAMILY KNERIIDAE
      • Freshwater; tropical Africa and Nile River system. Mouth inferior, protractile; scaled taxa have cycloid scales. Maximum length 15cm.
      • Cromeria, Grasseichthys, Kneria, Parakneria.
      • FAMILY PHRACTOLAEMIDAE
      • Snake Mudheads. Freshwater; tropical Africa. Mouth superior and protractile; cycloid scales; body elongate; swim bladder divided into many alveoli and used for respiration. Maximum length 16cm.
      • Phractolaemus.
  • OTOPHYSI
    • Bones (called Weberian ossicles) transmit vibrations from the swim bladder to the inner ear.
    • Lower Cretaceous to present.
    • ORDER CYPRINIFORMES
    • Carps. Kinethmoid (a bone between the premaxillae) present; always toothless; head usually scaleless. Greatest diversity in Asia.
      • SUBORDER CYPRINOIDEA
        • FAMILY CYPRINIDAE
        • Minnows and Carps. Freshwater; rarely brackish; North America, Africa, Eurasia. Phryngial teeth 1-3 rows; barbels. Largest freshwater fish family.
        • Eocene to present.
        • Subfamily Acheilognathinae (Bitterlings) Eurasia. Eggs laid in mantle cavity of clams: Acheilognathus, Rhodeus, Tanakia.
        • Subfamily Cultrinae: eastern Asia. Body compressed; belly keel-like: Chanodichthys, Culter, Erythroculter, Hemiculter, Parabramis.
        • Subfamily Cyprininae (Crucian Carp, Goldfish, Common Carp, Koi): Carassius, Cyprinus.
        • Subfamily Barbinae (Barbels, Barbs, and Snow Trouts): Barbus, Diptychus, Pseudobarbus, Puntius, Schizothorax, Sinocyclocheilus.
        • Subfamily Squaliobarbinae (Grass Carp): Ctenopharyngodon, Mylopharyngodon, Squalidobarbus.
        • Subfamily Tincidae (Tench): Tinca.
        • Subfamily Xenocyprinidae (Bighead Carp and Silver Carp). Miocene to present. Aristichthys, Hypophthalmichthys, Xenocypris, Eoxenocypris+, Xenocyproides+.
        • Subfamily Gobioninae (Gudgeons): Eurasia: Gobio, Coreius, Gnathopogon, Gobiobotia, Microphysogobio, Pseudogobio, Pseudorasbora, Romanogobio, Sarcocheilichthys, Saurogobio, Squalidus.
        • Subfamily Rasborinae (Danioninae), Africa and Southern Eurasia: Amblypharyngodon, Aspidoparia, Barilius, Chela, Danio (Brachydanio), Danionella, Engraulicypris, Esomus, Leptocypris, Macrochirichthys, Mesobola, Neobola, Opsaridium, Opsariichthys, Opsarius, Oxygaster, Raiamas, Rasbora, Rastrineobola, Salmostoma, Tanichthys, Thryssocypris, Zacco.
        • Subfamily Leuciscinae North American taxa: Acrochelius, Agosia, Algansea, Aztecula, Campostoma, Clinostomus, Couesius, Cyprinella, Dionda, Eremichthys, Erimonax, Erimystax, Exoglossum, Gila, Hemitremia, Hesperoleucus, Hybognathus, Hybopsis, Iothchthys, Lavinia, Lepidomeda, Luxilus, Lythrurus, Macrhybopsis, Margariscus, Meda, Moapa, Mylocheilus, Mylopharodon, Nocomis, Notemigonus, Notropis, Opsopoeodus, Oreganichthys, Orthodon, Phenacobius, Pimephiles, Plagopterus, Platygobio, Pogonichthys, Pteronotropis, Ptychocheilus, Relictus, Rinichthys, Richardsonius, Semotilus, Snyderichthys, Yuriria.
        • Eurasia taxa: Aaptosyax, Abramis, Alburnoides, Alburnus, Aspius, Blicca, Chalcalburnus, Chrondrostoma, Elopichthys, Eupallasella, Leuciscus (Idus), Luciobrama, Luciocyprinus, Oreoluciscius, Pelecus, Pseudophoxinus, Rutilus, Scardinius, Tribolodon, Vimba.
        • Cyprinid taxa with uncertain affinities: Acrossocheilus, Balantiocheilos, Bangana, Boraras, Capoeta, Catlocarpio, Cirrhinus, Crossocheilus, Cyclocheilichthys, Cyprinion, Epalzeorhynchos, Garra, Gibelion, Gymnocypris, Hampala, Oreinus, Phreatichthys, Poropuntius, Rectoris, Rohtee, Semiplotus, Tor, Varicorhinus.
        • FAMILY PSILORHYNCHIDAE
        • Mountain Carps. Freshwater mountain streams; Nepal to western Myanmar. Mouth small; ventral side of head flattened; pharyngeal bone with one row of 4 teeth; reduced swim bladder. Maximum length 8cm.
        • Psilorhynchoides, Psilorhynchus.
      • SUBORDER COBITOIDEA
      • Opisthotic is absent.
        • FAMILY GYRINOCHEILIDAE
        • Algae Eaters. Freshwater mountain streams; Southeast Asia. No pharyngeal teeth; mouth ventral and modified for sucking; no barbels. Maximum size to 30cm.
        • Gyrinocheilus.
        • FAMILY CATOSTOMIDAE
        • Suckers. Freshwater; China, Siberia, North America. One row of 16 or more pharyrngeal teeth. Maximum length 1m.
        • Subfamily Myxocyprininae; deep-bodied fish of Yangtse and Hwang Ho River systems: Myxocyprinus.
        • Subfamily Ictiobinae (Quillback, Carpsuckers, and Buffaloes), Canada to Guatemala: Carpoides, Ictiobus.
        • Subfamily Cycleptinae (Blue Suckers), Mississippi Basin and other drainages of the Gulf coast of the USA and Mexico: Cycleptus.
        • Subfamily Catostominae (Suckers), Siberia to Alaska and south to Mexico: Catostomus, Chasmistes, Deltistes, Xyrauchen, Erimyzon, Minytrema, Hypentelium, Thoburnia, Moxostoma.
        • FAMILY COBITIDAE
        • Loaches. Freshwater; Eurasia and northwestern Africa. Body elongate; mouth subterminal; 3-6 pairs of barbels; spine below the eye; one row of pharyngeal teeth. Maximum length 40cm.
        • Subfamily Cobitinae: one pair of rostral barbels: Acanthopsis, Acanthopsoides, Acanthophthalmus, Acantopsis, Cobitis, Enobarbus, Kichulchoia, Kottelatlimia, Lepidocephylichthys, Lepidocephalus, Misgurnus, Neoeucirrhichthys, Niwaella, Pangio, Serpenticobitis, Somileptus.
        • Subfamily Botiinae. Two pairs of rostral barbels: Botia, Chromobotia, Leptobotia, Parabotia, Sinibotia, Syncrossus, Yasuhikotakia.
        • FAMILY BALITORIDAE (HOMALOPTERIDAE)
        • River Loaches. Freshwater; Eurasia. Three or more pairs of barbels.
        • Subfamily Nemacheilinae; Prepalatine present; no spine under the eye; loaches of Eurasia: Aborichthys, Acanthocobitis, Adiposia, Barbatula, Eonemachilus, Heminoemacheilus, Lefua, Nemacheilus, Neonoemacheilus, Oreonectes, Orthrias, Paracobitis, Schistura, Traccatichthys, Triplophysa, Vaillantella, Ellopostoma.
        • Subfamily Balitorinae (Flat Loaches) Loaches of swift mountain streams in Southeast Asia: Annamia, Balitora, Balitoropsis, Beaufortia, Bhavania, Crossostoma, Cryptotora, Erromyzon, Gastromyzon, Glaniopsis, Hemimyzon, Homaloptera, Katibasia, Lepturichthys, Protomyzon, Sewellia, Sinogastromyzon, Travancoria.
    • ORDER CHARACHIFORMES
    • Characins. Teeth well-developed; adipose fin present; body usually scaled (ctenoid scales); upper jaw not truly protractile; with pharyngeal teeth; no barbels. Maximum length 1.4m.
      • SUBORDER CITHARINOIDEI
      • Teeth bicuspidate.
        • FAMILY CITHARINIDAE
        • Citharinids. Freshwater; Africa. Body deep; dorsal and anal fins long. Maximum length 84cm.
        • Citharinus, Citharinops, Citharidium.
      • SUBORDER CHARACOIDEI
        • FAMILY PARODONTIDAE
        • Parodontids. Freshwater; benthic fishes of mountain streams of eastern Panama through South America. Ventral mouths modified for scraping algae; premaxillaries mobile and very large.
        • Apareiodon, Parodon, Saccodon.
        • FAMILY CURIMATIDAE
        • Toothless Characiforms. Freshwater; Costa Rica to northern Argentina. No jaw teeth; no gill rakers. Maximum length 32cm.
        • Curimata, Curimatella, Curimatopsis, Cyphocharax, Potamorhina, Psectrogaster, Pseudocurimata, Steindachnerina.
        • FAMILY PROCHILODONTIDAE
        • Flannel-Mouth Characiforms. Freshwater; South America (northern half). Mouth protractile; jaw teeth present; predorsal spine. Maximum length 74.
        • Ichthyoelephas, Prochilodus, Semaprochilodus.
        • FAMILY ANOSTOMIDAE
        • Toothed Headstanders. Freshwater; southern Central America and South America. Mouth small, not protractile.
        • Abramites, Anostomoides, Anostomus, Gnathodolus, Laemolyta, Leprellus, Pseudanos, Rhytiodus, Sartor, Schizodon, Synaptolaemus.
        • FAMILY CHILODONTIDAE
        • Headstanders. Freshwater; northern South America. Premaxilla small; modified pharyngeal apparatus.
        • Caenotropus, Chilodus
        • FAMILY CRENUCHIDAE
        • South American Darters. Freshwater; eastern Panama and South America. Small, usually ess than 10cm.
        • Subfamily Crenuchinae: Crenuchus, Poecilocharax.
        • Subfamily Characidiinae: Ammocryptocharax, Characidium, Elachocharax, Geryichthys, Klausewitzia, Leptocharacidium, Melanocharacidium, Microcharacidium, Odontocharacidium, Skiotocharax.
        • FAMILY HEMIODONTIDAE
        • Hemiodontids. Freshwater; pelagic in northern South America. Body cylindrical to fusiform; adipose eyelid; teeth absent on lower jaw.
        • Subfamily Anodontinae: Anodus, Micromischodus.
        • Subfamily Hemiodontinae: Hemiodus, Argonectes, Bivibrachia.
        • FAMILY ALESTIIDAE (ALESTIDAE)
        • African Tetras. Freshwater; Africa.
        • Alestes, Brycinus, Bryconaethiops, Clupeocharax, Hemigrammopetersius, Hydrocynus, Ladigesia, Micralestes, Nannopetersius, Petersius, Phenacogrammus, Rhabdalestes, Tricuspidalestes.
        • FAMILY GASTEROPELECIDAE
        • Freshwater Hatchetfishes. Freshwater; Panama and South America. Body and head laterally-compressed and deep. Maximum length 6.8cm.
        • Carnegiella, Gastropelecus, Thoracocharax.
        • FAMILY CHARACIDAE
        • Characins. Freshwater, Texas through South America. Very large and diverse with 12 subfamilies.
        • Subfamily Agoniatinae. Amazon Basin: Agoniates.
        • Subfamily Clupeacharacinae. South America: Clupeacharax.
        • Subfamily Iguanodectinae. South America. Iguanodectes, Piabucus.
        • Subfamily Bryconinae: Southern Mexico: Brycon, Chilobrycon, Heochilus.
        • Subfamily Serrasalminae (Pacus, Silver Dollars, Piranhas): South America: Acnodon, Catoprion, Colossoma, Metynnis, Mylesinus, Myleus, Pristobrycon, Pygocentrus, Serrasalmus, Tometes.
        • Subfamily Aphyocharacinae: South America: Aphyocharax.
        • Subfamily Characinae: Southern Mexico to La Plata system in South America: Acestrocephalus, Charax, Cynopotamus, Phenacogaster, Priocharax, Roeboides.
        • Subfamily Stethaprioninae (Silver Dollar Tetras): South America: Brachychalcinus, Orthospinus, Poptella, Stethaprion.
        • Subfamily Tetragonopterinae: South America: Tetragonopterus.
        • Subfamily Rhoadsiinae: Nicaragua to Peru and Ecuador: Carlana, Parastemma, Rhoadsia.
        • Subfamily Cheirodontinae: Costa Rica to northern Argentina: Cheirodon, Compsura, Odontostilbe, Serrapinus, Spintherobolus.
        • Subfamily Glandulocaudinae: Costa Rica to northern Argentina: Argopleura, Corynopoma, Diapoma, Gephyrocharax, Glandulocauda, Mimagoniates, Pseudocorynopoma, Tyttocharax, Xenurobrycon.
        • FAMILY ACESTRORHYNCHIDAE
        • Acestrorhynchids. Freshwater; South America. Body elongate and resembles a pike with small scales.
        • Acestrorhynchus.
        • FAMILY CYNODONTIDAE
        • Cynodontids. Freshwater; South America. Mouth oblique, superior; canines; pectoral fins large. Maximum length 65cm.
        • Subfamily Cynodontinae: Cynodon, Hydrolycus, Raphiodon.
        • Subfamily Roestinae: Gilbertolus, Roestes.
        • FAMILY ERYTHRINIDAE
        • Trahiras. Freshwater; South America. Mouth long to orbit; body cylindrical; adipose fin absent; anal fin short, caudal fin rounded. Fish resemble Amia. Maximum length 1m.
        • Erythrinus, Hoplerythrinus, Hoplias.
        • FAMILY LEBIASINIDAE
        • Pencil Fishes. Freshwater; Costa Rica through South America. Mouth short; adipose fin present.
        • Subfamily Lebiasininae: Lebiasina, Piabucina.
        • Subfamily Pyrrhulininae: Copella, Pyrrhulina, Nannostomus.
        • FAMILY CTENOLUCIIDAE
        • Pike Characids. Freshwater; Panama through South America. Body pike-like; anal and dorsal fins set far back on body; carnivorous; spinoid scales. Maximum length 68cm.
        • Boulengerella, Ctenolucius.
        • FAMILY HEPSETIDAE
        • African Pikes. Freshwater; tropical Africa. Body pike-like; long snout with scattered canines; adipose fin present; cycloid scales. Maximum length 65cm.
        • Hepsetus.
    • ORDER SILURIFORMES (NEMATOGNATHI)
    • Catfishes. Intermuscular bones absent; many skull elements fused; vomer toothed; adipose fin usually present; pectoral fins and dorsal fins with spines some of which are poisonous; maxilla toothless and supporting a barbel; air-breathing organs in a few taxa. Large and diverse order with 35 families according to Nelson (2006).
    • Late Cretaceous to present. Known from all continents.
      • SUBORDER DIPLOMYSTOIDEA
      • Sister group to all other catfishes.
        • FAMILY DIPLOMYSTIDAE
        • Velvet Catfishes. Freshwater; southern South America. Teeth on maxilla (only group); only maxillary barbels; dorsal fin and pectorals with spines.
        • Diplomystes, Olivaichthys.
      • SUBORDER CETOPSOIDEA
        • FAMILY CETOPSIDAE
        • Whalelike Catfishes. Freshwater; South America. No scales; three pairs of barbels; pectoral and dorsal fins without spines.
        • Subfamily Cetopsinae: No adipose fin. Maximum length 26cm: Bathycetopsis, Cetopsis, Denticetopsis, Hemicetopsis, Paracetopsis, Pseudocetopsis.
        • Subfamily Helogeneinae: No sine in dorsal or pectoral fins; with adipose fin: Helogenes.
      • SUBORDER HYPSIDOROIDEA+
        • FAMILY HYPSIDORIDAE
        • Teeth on maxilla.
        • Middle Eocene of Wyoming and Oregon.
        • Hypsidoris.
      • SUBORDER LORICARIOIDEA
        • FAMILY AMPHILIIDAE
        • Loach Catfishes. Freshwater; tropical Africa; most in fast moving streams. No nasal barbels; dorsal and pectoral fin spines absent; adipose fin present; Maximum length 19cm. Three subfamilies.
        • Subfamily Amphiliinae: mouth subterminal: Amphilius, Paramphilius.
        • Subfamily Leptoglaninae: Maxilla elongate: Dolichamphilius, Leptoglanis, Psammphiletria, Tetracamphilius, Zaireichthys.
        • Subfamily Doumeinae: mouth inferior: Andersonia, Belonoglanis, Doumea, Phractura, Trachyglanis.
        • FAMILY TRICHOMYCTERIDAE
        • Pencil Catfishes or Parasitic Catfishes. Freshwater; Costa Rica through South America: Body naked and elongate; chin barbells absent; no adipose fin in most. 8 subfamilies.
        • Subfamily Copionodontinae: Brazil; Adipose fin present: Copionodon, Glaphyropoma.
        • Subfamily Trichogeninae: Brazil; anal fin long: Trichogenes.
        • Subfamily Trichomycterinae: Bullockia, Eremophilus, Hatcheria, Ituglanis, Rhizosomichthys, Scleronema, Silvinichthys, Trichomycterus.
        • Subfamily Vandelliinae: Paracanthopoma, Paravandellia, Plectochilus, Vandellia.
        • Subfamily Stegophilinae: Acanthopoma, Henonemus, Homodiaetus, Ochmacanthus, Parastegophilus, Pareiodon, Schultzichthys, Steophilus.
        • Subfamily Tridentinae: Anal fin long: Miuroglanis, Tridens, Tridensimilis, Tridentopsis.
        • Subfamily Glanapteryginae: transparent and sand dwelling: Glanapteryx.
        • Subfamily Sarcoglanidinae: Amazon Basin : Ammoglanis, Malacoglanis, Microcambeva, Sarcoglanis, Stauroglanis, Stenolicmus.
        • FAMILY NEMATOGENYIDAE
        • Mountain Catfishes. Freshwater; central Chile. Body elongate and scaleless; three pairs of barbells; no adipose fin.
        • Netamtogenys.
        • FAMILY CALLICHTHYIDAE
        • Callichthyid Armored Catfishes. Freshwater: Panama through South America. Body with two rows of overlapping bony plates; swim bladder encased in bone; mouth ventral; 2 pairs of barbells; spines on dorsal and pectoral fins; adipose fin with a spine.
        • Subfamily Callichthyinae: Callichthys, Dianema, Hoplosternum, Lepthoplosternum, Megalechis.
        • Subfamily Corydoradinae: snout compressed, rounded: Aspidoras, Brochis, Corydoras.
        • FAMILY SCOLOPLACIDAE
        • Spiny Dwarf Catfishes. Freshwater; central South America. Body with odontode plates; spines on dorsal and pectoral fins; no adipose fin.
        • Scoloplax.
        • FAMILY ASTROBLEPIDAE
        • Climbing Catfishes. Freshwater; Panama and Andean South America. Body scaleless; suctorial mouth; 2 pairs of barbells; no licking mechanism for dorsal fin spine. They live in swift water and can even climb waterfalls.
        • Astroblepus.
        • FAMILY LORICARIDAE
        • Suckermouth Armored Catfishes. Freshwater; Costa Rica through South America. Body covered with interlocking bony plates; mouth ventral. Largest family of catfishes. 6 subfamilies.
        • Subfamily Lithogeneinae: Lithogenes (One species described in 2003 may be extinct.)
        • Subfamily Neoplecostominae: Brazil: Plecostomus.
        • Subfamily Hypoptopomatinae: Acestridium, Hisonotus, Hypotopoma, Microlepidogaster, Otocinclus, Otothyris, Oxyropsis, Parotocinclus.
        • Subfamily Loricariinae: Crossoloricaria, Farlowella, Harttia, Loricaria, Loricariichthys, Pseudohemiodon, Reganella, Rineloricaria, Spatuloricaria, Sturisoma.
        • Subfamily Ancistrinae: Ancistrus, Chaetostoma, Hemiancistrus, Hypancystrus, Lasiancistrus, Lithoxus, Megalancistrus, Panaque, Peckoltia, Pseudoacanthicus, Pseudancistrus.
        • Subfamily Hypostominae: Delturus, Glyptopterichthys, Hemipsilichthys, Hypostomus, Liposarcus, Pogonopoma, Pterogoplichthys, Rhinelepis, Squaliforma.
      • SUBORDER SISOROIDEA
        • FAMILY AMBLYCIPITIDAE
        • Torrent Catfishes. Freshwater; southern and eastern Asia. Dorsal fin covered by thick skin, with weak spine and narrow base; adipose fin present, but confluent with caudal fin; 4 pairs of barbells; fish of swift streams.
        • Amblyceps, Liobagrus, Xiurenbagus.
        • FAMILY AKYSIDAE
        • Stream Catfishes. Freshwater; southeastern Asia. Dorsal fin with strong spine and narrow base.
        • Subfamily Akysinae: Akysis.
        • Subfamily Parakysinae: Acrochordonichthys, Breitensteinia, Parakysis.
        • FAMILY SISTORIDAE (BAGARIIDAE)
        • Sisorid Catfishes. Freshwater; southern Asia; Body covered by small tubercles; adipose fin present and confluent with the tail in some species; adhesive apparatus in thoracic region present or absent; fishes of mountain streams. Maximum length 2m.
        • Subfamily Sisorinae: Ayarnangra, Bagarius, Gagata, Gogangra, Nangra, Sisor.
        • Subfamily Glyptosterninae: Coraglanis, Euchiloglanis, Exostoma, Glaridoglanis, Glyptosternon, Glyptothorax, Myersglanis, Oreoglanis, Pareuchiloglanis, Pseudecheneis, Pseudexostoma.
        • FAMILY ERETHISTIDAE
        • Erethistid Catfishes. Freshwater; southern Asia.
        • Chaelatoglanis, Conta, Erethistes, Erethistoides, Hara, Pseudolaguvia.
        • FAMILY ASPREDINIDAE
        • Banjo Catfishes. Freshwater; tropical South America. Body with turbicles arranged in longitudinal rows; no adipose fin; head depressed; dorsal sine lock missing in most species.
        • Subfamily Bunocephalinae: Acanthobunocephalus, Amaralia, Bunocephalus.
        • Subfamily Aspredininae: Aspredinichthys, Aspredo, Platystacus, Pterobunocephalus.
        • Subfamily Hoplomyzontinae: Dupouyichthys, Ernsichthys, Hoplomyzon, Micromyzon, Xyliphius.
      • SUBORDER PSEUDOPIMELOIDEA
        • FAMILY PSEUDOPIMELOIDIDAE
        • Bumbllebee Catfish. Freshwater; South America. Mouth wide, eyes small, and barbells short.
        • Batrachoglanis, Cephalosilurus, Lophiosilurus, Microgalnis, Pseudopimelodus.
      • SUBORDER HEPTAPTEROIDEA
        • FAMILY HEPTAPTERIDAE
        • Heptapterids. Freshwater; Mexico to South America. Skin naked; 3 pairs of barbells; large adipose fin; caudal fin deeply forked.
        • Acentronichthys, Brachyglanis, Brachyrhamdia, Cetopsorhambia, Chasmocranus, Glandioglanis, Goeldiella, Heptapterus, Imparfinis, Leptorhamdia, Rhamdella, Rhamdia, Taunayia.
      • SUBORDER CRANOGLANIDOIDEA
        • FAMILY CRANOGLANIDIDAE
        • Armorhead Catfish. Freshwater; large rivers of China and Vietnam. Dorsal fin shirt with strong spine; caudal fin forked; eyes large; body compressed and naked; bony plates on top of the head; 4 pairs of barbells.
        • Cranoglanis.
      • SUBORDER ICTALUROIDEA
        • FAMILY ICTALURIDAE (AMEIURIDAE)
        • North American Catfishes. Freshwater; North and Central America. Four pairs of barbels; skin naked; dorsal and pectoral fins with spine; palate toothless. Maximum length 1.6m.
        • Ameiurus, Ictalurus, Noturus, Prietella, Pylodictis, Satan, Trogloglandis.
      • SUBORDER DORADOIDEA
        • FAMILY MOCHOKIDAE
        • Squeakers or Upside-down Catfishes. Freshwater; Africa. Adipose fin leery large; dorsal and pectoral fins with stout spines; three pairs of barbells.
        • Ancharias, Atopochilus, Chiloglanis, Euchilichthys, Microsynodontis, Mochokus, Synodontis.
        • FAMILY DORADIDAE
        • Thorny Catfishes or Talking Catfishes. Freshwater; South America. Body with row of bony plates, usually with spines. Sound production by vibrating spines or swim bladder. Maximum length 120cm.
        • Acanthodoras, Agamyxis, Amblydoras, Anadoras, Doraops, Doras, Hassar, Hemidoras, Leptodoras, Liosomadoras, Megalodoras, Nemadoras, Opsodoras, Oxydoras, Physopyxis, Platydoras, Pseudodoras, Pterodoras, Scorpiodoras, Tachydoras.
        • FAMILY AUCHENIPTERIDAE
        • Driftwood Catfishes. Freshwater; Panama to Argentina. Body naked; bony plates beneath skin of the head; 3 pairs of barbels; strong spines in pectoral and dorsal fins; adipose fin highly reduced.
        • Subfamily Centromochlinae: Centromochlus, Gelanoglanis, Glanidium, Tatia.
        • Subfamily Auchenipterinae: Augeneiosus, Auchenipterus, Epapterus, Tetranematichthys, Trachelyichthys, Trachelyopterus, Trachycorystes.
      • SUBORDER SILUROIDEA
        • FAMILY SILURIDAE
        • Freshwater Europe and Asia. Dorsal fin reduced (without a spine) or absent; no adipose fin; pelvic fins small; anal fin very long; 3 pairs of barbels. Maximum length 3m (up to 5m).
        • Belodontichthys, Ceratoglanis, Hemisilurus, Hito, Kryptopterus, Micronema, Ompok, Pterocryptis, Silurichthys, Silurus, Wallago.
        • FAMILY MALAPTERURIDAE
        • Electric Catfishes. Freshwater; tropical Africa and Nile river basin. Electrogenic organ from the anterior musculature; no dorsal fin; no fin spines; adipose fin present and far back on the body; 3 pairs of barbels; pectoral girdle attached to skull. Maximum length 1m.
        • Malapterurus, Paradoxoglanis.
        • FAMILY AUCHENOGLANIDIDAE
        • Auchenoglanidids. Freshwater; Africa . Anterior nostrils on anteroventral side of upper lip; caudal fin rounded.
        • Anaspidoglanis, Auchenoglanis, Liauchenoglanis, Notoglanidium, Parauchenoglanis, Platyglanis.
        • FAMILY CHACIDAE
        • Squarehead, Angler, or Frogmouth Catfishes. Freshwater; eastern India to Borneo . Head broad and flat; mouth terminal and very wide; body compressed posteriorly; 3-4 pairs of barbels; dorsal and pectoral fins with spines; adipose fin continuous with caudal fin.
        • Chaca.
        • FAMILY PLOTOSIDAE
        • Eeltail Catfishes. Marine, brackish, freshwater; Indian Ocean and western Pacific. Body and tail eel-like; tail pointed; 4 pairs of barbels; possibly two caudal fins, the second of which is continuous with the caudal; anal fin also continuous with the caudal.
        • Anodontiglanis, Cnidoglanis, Euristhmus, Neosiluroides, Neosilurus, Oloplotosus, Paraplotosus, Plotosus, Porochilus, Tandanus.
        • FAMILY CLARIIDAE
        • Airbreathing Catfishes. Freshwater; Africa to western and southern Asia . Dorsal fin very long and without a spine; sometimes continuous with the caudal fin; caudal fin rounded; 4 pairs of barbels; gill arches elaborate a labyrinthine air breathing organ. Fish can move over land for short distances.
        • Bathyclarias, Channallabes, Clariallabes, Clarias, Dinotopterus, Dolichallabes, Encheloclarias, Gymnallabes, Heterobranchus, Horaglanis, Platyallabes, Platyclarias, Tanganikallabes, Uegitglanis.
        • FAMILY HETEROPNEUSTIDAE (SACCOBRANCHIDAE)
        • Airsac Catfishes. Freshwater; Pakistan to Thailand . Body elongate; compressed; head greatly depressed; 4 pairs of barbels; air sac serves as a lung; dorsal fin short and spineless; no adipose fin; pectoral fins have poison glands.
        • Heteropneustes.
        • FAMILY AUSTROGLANIDIDAE
        • Austroglanidids. Freshwater; southern Africa . Three pairs of barbels; strong dorsal and pectoral fins; adipose fin small.
        • Austroglanis.
        • FAMILY ARIIDAE (TACHYSURIDAE)
        • Sea Catfishes. Marine, though some in brackish and freshwater; tropical to warm temperate waters across the globe. Caudal fin forked; adipose fin present; 3 pairs of barbels; bony plates on head and near dorsal fin, which had a spine. Male carries the eggs in its mouth.
        • Ariopsis, Arius, Aspistor, Bagre, Batrachocephalus, Cathorops, Cinedotus, Cochlefelis, Doiichthys, Galeichthys, Genidens, Hemipimelodus, Hexanematichthys, Ketengus, Nedystoma, Netuma, Notarius, Osteogeneiosus, Paradiplomystes, Potamarius, Tetranesodon.
        • FAMILY SCHILBEIDAE (SCHILBIDAE)
        • Schilbeid Catfishes. Freshwater; Africa and southern Asia . Short dorsal fin; adipose fin usually present; anal fin long but not connected to caudal fin; 4 pairs of barbels; pelvic fins may or may not be present. Fish of open water.
        • Irvineia, Parailinia, Siluranodon, Pareutropius, Schlbe, Ailia, AiliichthysClupisoma, Eutropiichthys, Laides, Platytropius, Proeutropiichthys, Pseudotropius, Silonia, Horabagrus.
        • FAMILY PANGASIIDAE
        • Shark Catfishes. Freshwater; southern Asia. Two pairs of barbels; body compressed; adipose fin present, but small. Maximum length 3m.
        • Helicophagus, Pangasianodon, Pangasius.
        • FAMILY BAGRIDAE
        • Bagrid Catfishes. Freshwater; Africa and Asia . Dorsal fin with spine; adipose fin variable; pectoral spine serrated; body naked; 4 pairs of barbels.
        • Barichthys, Bagroides, Bagrus, Batasio, Hemileiocassis, Hyalobagrus, Hemibagrus, Leiocassis, Mystus, Nanobagrus, Neotropius, Olyra, Pelteobagrus, Pseudobagrus, Pseudomystus, Rama, Rita, Sperata.
        • FAMILY PIMELODIDAE
        • Long-Whiskered Catfishes. Freshwater; Panama and South America . Body naked; adipose fin present; 3 pairs of barbels; pectoral and dorsal fins usually present; adipose finwell developed. Maximum 2.8m.
        • Brachyplatystoma, Calophysus, Goslinia, Hypophthalamus, Luciopimelodus, Parapimelodus, Phractocephalus, Pimelodina, Pimelodus, Sorubim, Sorubimichthys, Zungaro.
    • ORDER GYMNOTIFORMES
    • American Knifefishes. Body eel-like; no pelvic girdle; no dorsal fin; anal fin very long; caudal fin reduced or absent; electric organs are muscle masses (or nerve tissue in some)
      • SUBORDER GYMNOTOIDEI
        • FAMILY GYMNOTIDAE
        • Naked Knifefishes. Freshwater; Mexico through South America. Body rounded. Some with powerful electric organ. Maximum length 2.2m.
        • Gymnotus, Electrophorus.
      • SUBORDER STERNOPYGOIDEI
        • FAMILY RHAMPHICHYIDAE
        • Sand Knifefishes or Tubesnout Knifefishes. Freshwater; South America . Teeth on jaws; snout elongate.
        • Gymnorhamphichthys, Iracema, Ramphichthys.
        • FAMILY HYPOPOMIDAE
        • Bluntnose Knifefishes. Freshwater; Panama through South America. No teeth on oral jaws; snout blunt. Up to 35cm long.
        • Brachyhypopomus, Hypopomus, Hypopygus, Microsternarchus, Racenisia, Steatogenys, Stegostenops.
        • FAMILY STERNOPYGIDAE
        • Glass Kinfefishes. Freshwater; Panama through South America. Villiform teeth; snout short; eye large.
        • Upper Miocene to present. Bolivia .
        • Archolaemus, Distocyclus, Eigenmannia, Rhabdolichops, Sternopygus, Humboldtichthys+.
        • FAMILY APTERONOTIDAE
        • Ghost Knifefishes. Freshwater; Panama through South America . Small caudal fin that is separate from the anal fin; neurogenic electric organ. Up to 1.3m long.
        • Adontosternarchus, Apteronotus, Compsaraia, Magosternarchus, Megadontognathus, Orthosternarchus, Parapteronotus, Platyurosternarchus, Porotergus, Sternarchella, Sternarchogiton, Sternarchorhamphus, Sternarchorhynchus.
  • EUTELEOSTEI – SALMON, PIKE, AND DERIVED TELEOSTS
  • PROTACANTHOPTERYGII (PIKE AND SALMON)
    • ORDER ARGENTINIFORMES
    • Marine Smelts. Complex epibranchial organ (called crumenal organ).
      • SUBORDER ARGENTINOIDEI
      • Adipose fin present; caudal fin forked; dorsal fin near body center; maxillae and premaxillae toothless; mouth small; hatch from small eggs with gradual development. Fishes silvery.
        • FAMILY ARGENTINIDAE
        • Argentines or Herring Smelts. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Eye not tubular; adipose fin over anal fin.
        • Argentina, Glossanodon.
        • FAMILY OPISTHOPROCTIDAE
        • Barreleyes or Spookfishes. Marine; tropical to temperate, Atlantic , Indian, and Pacific oceans. Eye tubular; adipose fin generally absent; photophores in some; many without swim bladder.
        • Bathylychnops, Dolichopteryx, Macropinna, Opisthoproctus, Rhynchohyalus, Winteria.
        • FAMILY MICROSTOMATIDAE
        • Pencilsmelts. Marine; tropical to temperate; Atlantic, Indian, Pacific oceans.
        • Subfamily Microstomatinae: Pencilsmelts; mainly tropical. Nansenia, Microstoma, Xenophthalmichthys.
        • Subfamily Bathylaginae (Deepsea Smelts); widely distributed from subarctic to the Antarctic. Bathylagichthys, Bathylagoides, Bathylagus, Dolicholagus, Leuroglossus, Lipolagus, Melanolagus, Pseudobathylagus.
      • SUBORDER ALEPOCEPHALOIDEI
      • Dorsal fin back of center on the body; mouth large; mouth large; large eggs; fishes dark colored.
        • FAMILY PLATYTROCTIDAE (SEARSIIDAE)
        • Tubeshoulders. Marine; found in all oceans, absent from Mediterranean . Luminous sac in shoulder region with window-like papilla above pectoral fin; no swim bladder. Maximum length 30cm. Most are very deep water species (>300-1000m).
        • Barbantus, Holtbrynia, Maulisia, Miririctus, Normichthys, Paraholtbrynia, Pellisolus, Persparsia, Platytroctes, Sagamichthys, Searsia, Searsioides, Tragularius.
        • FAMILY BATHYLACONIDAE
        • Bathylaconids. Marine; tropical to temperate oceans; circumglobal. Mouth extending well behind the eyes; large cycloid scales.
        • Bathylaco, Herwigia.
        • FAMILY ALEPOCEPHALIDAE
        • Slickheads. Deep-sea; global. Teeth small; gill raker long; no shoulder sac apparatus, but photophores present. Very deep (> 1,000m).
        • Alepocephalus, Asquamiceps, Aulastomatomorpha, Bajacalifornia, Bathyprion, Bathytroctes, Bellocia, Conocara, Ericara, Leptochilichthys, Leptoderma, Narcetes, Photostylus, Rinoctes, Rouleina, Talismania, Xenodermichthys.
    • ORDER OSMERIFORMES
    • Freshwater Smelts. Spawn in freshwater.
    • Late Cretaceous to present.
      • SUBORDER OSMERIODEA
      • Eggs with a surrounding anchor membrane.
        • FAMILY OSMERIDAE
        • Smelts. Marine, freshwater, anadromous; northern hemisphere in Arctic, Atlantic , and Pacific oceans. Patatine bone dumbbell shaped; adipose fin present; caudal fin forked. Maximum length 40cm.
        • Paleocene ( Alberta and Europe ) to present.
        • Speirsaenigma+, Enoplophthalmus+.
        • Subfamily Hypomesinae: Hypomesus.
        • Subfamily Plecoglossinae: Plecoglossus.
        • Subfamily Osmerinae: Mallotus, Neosalanx, Protosalanx, Salangithys, Salanx.
      • SUBORDER GALAXIOIDEA
      • No pyloric caeca; dominant taxa of freshwater fauna in the southern hemisphere.
        • FAMILY RETROPINNIDAE
        • New Zealand Smelts. Freshwater and brackish; New Zealand , Chatham Islands, southeastern Australia , and Tasmania . Adipose fin; vomerine teeth; cucumber odor.
        • Subfamily Protroctinae (Southern Graylings), dorsal fin forward: Protroctes.
        • Subfamily Retropinninae: (Southern Smelts) dorsal fin dorsal to pelvics: Retropinna, Stokellia.
        • FAMILY GALAXIIDAE
        • Galaxiids. Freshwater and diadromous; Australia, New Zealand, New Calidonia, southern Africa, southern South America. Vomer toothless.
        • Subfamily Lepidogalaxiinae: Elongate; dorsal fin posterior to pelvic fin; no adipose fin; no eye muscles, freshwater of southwestern Australia. Lepidogalaxias.
        • Subfamily Galaxiidae: no cucumber oder: Lovettia, Aplochiton, Brachygalaxias, Galaxias, Galaxiella, Neochana, Paragalaxias.
    • ORDER SALMONIFORMES
    • Trouts. A single large, important family.
    • Cretaceous to present.
      • FAMILY SALMONIDAE
      • Salmonids. Freshwater and anadromous; Northern Hemisphere. Eye muscles passing through to trunk muscales, adipose fin present, tetraploid karyotype. Maximum length 1.5m.
      • Subfamily Coregoninae: (Whitefishes and Ciscoes) no teeth on maxilla: Coregonus, Stenodus, Prosopium.
      • Subfamily Thymallinae: (Graylings): teeth on maxillae: Thymallus.
      • Subfamily Salmoninae: (Salmons and Trouts) teeth on maxilla: Brachymastax, Acantholingua, Salmothymus, Hucho, Salvelinus, Salmo, Oncorhynchus.
    • ORDER ESOCIFORMES
    • Pikes. Maxilla toothless; no adipose fin; dorsal and anal finsposterior.
      • FAMILY ESOCIDAE
      • Pikes. Freshwater; northern hemisphere. Head with an elongated snout; mouth terminal with longer lower jaw.
      • Late Cretaceous to present.
      • Esox, Kenoza, Estesox+, Oldmanisox+.
      • FAMILY UMBRIDAE
      • Mudminnows. Freshwater; northern hemisphere. Head without elongate snout.
      • Oligocene to present.
      • Dallia, Novumbra, Umbra, Proumbra+, Novumbra+
  • NEOTELEOSTEI
    • SUPERORDER STENOPTERYGII
    • Sisters to the rest of the neoteleosts and retain primitive characters of the salmonids.
      • ORDER STOMIIFORMES (STOMIATIFORMES)
      • Dragonfishes. Luminescent organs present; some with barbels; mouth extends past eye; mostly tropical to temperate and deep-sea.
        • SUBORDER UNNAMED
          • FAMILY DIPLPHIDAE
          • This family occupies an uncertain position in the order and may be artificial. Thyy all lack an adipose fin.
          • Diplophos, Manducus, Trilophos.
        • SUBORDER GONOSTOMATOIDEI
        • Serial photophores; gill rakers; teeth small.
          • FAMILY GONOSTOMATIDAE
          • Bristlemouths. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Body elongate; adipose fins may be present. Photophores on ventral side in rows that include the isthmus.
          • Bonapartia, Cyclothone, Gonostoma, Margrethia, Sigmops.
          • FAMILY STERNOPTYCHIDAE
          • Marine Hatchetfishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. 3-7 branchiostegal photophores.
          • Subfamily Maurolicinae: elongate; photophores on isthmus: Araiophos, Argyripnus, Danaphoa, Maurolicus, Sonoda, Thorophos, Valenciennellus.
          • Subfamily Sternoptychinae (Marine Hatchetfishes), body deep and compressed; preopercular spine; eyes telescopic, abdominal keel: Argyroplecus, Sternoptyx, Polyipnus.
        • SUBORDER PHOSICHTHYOIDEI
          • FAMILY PHOSICHTHYIDAE (PHOTICHTHYIDAE)
          • Lightfishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, Pacific Oceans. Photophores have a lumen and a duct; gill rakers; adipose fin present.
          • Ichthyococcus, Phosichthys, Pollichthys, Polymetme, Vinciguerria, Woodsia, Yarrella.
          • FAMILY STOMIIDAE
          • Barbeled Dragonfishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, Pacific oceans. No gill rakers (at least in adults); photophores without ducts or lumen; most dark colored.
          • Subfamily Astronesthinae (Snaggletooths): no scales, dorsal fin over pelvic fin; many with dorsal and ventral adipose fin; barbel on chin. Maximum length 30cm. Astronesthes, Borostomias, Heterophotus, Neonesthes, Radinesthes.
          • Subfamily Stomiini Scales present, body elongate: Stomias, Chauliodus, Bathophilus, Chirostomias, Echiostoma, Eustomias, Flagellostomias, Grammatostomias, Leptostomias, Melanostomias, Odontostomias, Opostomias, Pachystomias, Parabathophilus, Photonectes, Tactostoma, Thysanactis, Trigonolampa.
          • Subfamily Idacanthinae (Black Dragonfishes): Eel-like; no scales; eyes on stalks: Idiacanthus.
          • Subfamily Malacosteinae (Loosejaws): Jaws longer than the skull; scales absent: Aristostomias, Malacosteus, Photostomias.
    • SUPERORDER ATELEOPODOMORPHA
      • ORDER ATELOPODIFORMES
      • Jellynose Fishes. They seem to be sister both of Lampriformes and Myctophiformes.
        • FAMILY ATELOPODIDAE
        • Jellynose Fishes. Marine; Caribbean, eastern Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific, eastern Pacific off Costa Rica and Panama. Caudal fin reduced; long anal fins; skeleton cartilaginous; bulbous snout.
        • Aeteleopus, Ijimaia, Parateleopus, Guentherus.
  • EURYPTERYGII
    • SUPERORDER CYCLOSQUAMATA
      • ORDER AULOPIFORMES
      • Lizardfishes. No swim bladder; gill arch specializations found only in this order.
        • SUBORDER ICHTHYOTRINGOIDEI+
        • Upper Cretaceous of Italy
          • FAMILY ICHTHYOTRINGIDAE
          • Apateodus, Ichthyotringia.
          • FAMILY DERCETIDAE
          • Benthesikyme, Cyranichthys, Dercetis, Dercetoides, Hastichthys, Pelargorhynchus, Rhynchodercetis, Stratodus.
        • SUBORDER HALECOIDEI+
          • FAMILY HALECIDAE
          • Halec, Hemisaurida, Phylactocephalus.
          • This is the most primitive extant group of aulopiforms and sister to the remaining synodontoids.
        • SUBORDER SYNODONTOIDEI
          • FAMILY PARAULOPIDAE
          • Cucumber Fishes. Marine; tropical to temperate; benthic on the outer shelves and upper slopes of the continents bordering the Indian and western Pacific oceans. Maximum length 35cm.
          • Paraloupus.
          • FAMILY AULOPIDAE
          • Flagfins. Marine; tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic (Mediterranean) and Pacific oceans. Two supramaxillae; slender body; dorsal fin in anterior half of the body; pelvic fin thoracic; scales on head and body (cycloid or ctenoid).
          • Aulopus, Hime.
          • FAMILY PSEUDOTRICHONOTIDAE
          • Sandiving Lizardfishes. Marine; Izu Peninsula , Japan, and Saya de Malha Bank, Indian Ocean. Body cylindrical; mouth small; upper jaw slightly protrusible; cycloid scales; pelvic fin below dorsal; no adipose fin; no photophores; no swim bladder. Maximum length 9cm.
          • Pseudotrichonotus.
          • FAMILY SYNODONTIDAE
          • Lizardfishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Supramaxilla small or absent.
          • Subfamily Synodontinae (Lizardfishes) adipose fin; to 60cm: Synodus, Trachinocephalus.
          • Subfamily Harpadontinae (Bombay Ducks): Harpadon, Sauri
        • SUBORDER CHLOROPHTHALMOIDEI
          • FAMILY BATHYSAUROIDIDAE
          • Bathysauroidids. Marine; western Pacific.
          • Bathysauroides.
          • FAMILY CHLOROPHTHALMIDAE
          • Greeneyes. Marine; tropical to temperate; deep-sea, benthic; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Single supramaxilla; monoecious reproduction; eyes large; pyloric caeca.
          • Chlorophthalmus, Parasudis.
          • FAMILY BATHYSAUROPSIDAE
          • Bathysauropsids. Marine; mesobenthic, tropical to subtropical; circumglobal.
          • Bathysauropsis.
          • FAMILY NOTOSUDIDAE (SCOLEPOSAURIDAE)
          • Waryfishes. Marine; subarctic to subantarctic. No swim bladder; no photophores; larvae with maxillary teeth.
          • Ahliesaurus, Luciosudis, Scopelosaurus.
          • FAMILY IPNOPIDAE
          • Deepsea Tripod Fishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Eyes tiny or directed dorsally and plate-like, without lenses; jaw extends past orbit; no pyloric caeca; many have elongated fins.
          • Bathymicrops, Bathypterois, Bathytyphlops, Discoverichthys, Ipnops.
          • SUBFAMILY ALEPISAUROIDEI
            • FAMILY CIMOLICHTHYIDAE+
            • Cimolichthys.
            • FAMILY ENCHONODONTIDAE+
            • Enchodus, Eurypholis, Palaeolycus, Parenchodus, Rharbichthys, Saurorhamphus.
            • FAMILY SCOPELARCHIDAE
            • Pearleyes. Marine; Antarctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Cycloid scales over whole; teeth on tongue; large tubular eyes, directed upward; no swim bladder; 500-1,000m. Maximum length 23cm.
            • Benthalbella, Rosenblattichthys, Scopelarchoides, Scopelarchus.
            • FAMILY EVERMANNELLIDAE
            • Sabertooth Fishes. Marine, mesopelagic predators; Atlantic , Indian, and Pacific oceans. Normal scales missing on head and body; no teeth on tongue; anteriormost palatine tooth very long; eyes mostly tubular; no swim bladder. Maximum length 18cm.
            • Coccorella, Evermannella, Odontostomops.
            • FAMILY ALEPISAURIDAE
            • Lancetfishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Body slender; no scale or light organs; mouth large; palatine teeth very long; no swim bladder. Length up to 2m.
            • Alepisaurus, Omosudis.
            • FAMILY PARALEPIDIDAE
            • Barracudinas. Marine; all oceans; Arctic to Antarctic. Adipose fin present; sacles present or absent; no swim bladder.
            • Anotopterus, Arctozenus, Dolichosudis, Lestidiops, Lestidium, Lestrolepis, Macroparalepis, Magnisudis, Notolepis, Paralepis, Stemonosudis, Sudis, Uncisudis.
          • SUBORDER GIGANTUROIDEI
            • FAMILY BATHYSAURIDAE
            • Deepsea Lizardfishes. Marine; tropical to temperate; circumglobal below 1,000m. Head depressed; upper jaw long, extending well past orbit; hermaphrodites. Maximum length 78cm.
            • Bathysaurus.
            • FAMILY GIGANTURIDAE
            • Telescopefishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Eyes large and tubular; mouth large and extending well past orbit; stomach expandable; skin loose; scaleless; caudal fin forked with elongated lower fork; no pelvic or adipose fins in adults; no swim bladder; silvery.
            • Gignatura.
    • SUPERORDER SCOPELOMORPA
      • ORDER MYCTOPHIFORMES
      • Lanternfishes. Head and body compressed; eye lateral; adipose fins present; all are deep-sea pelagic or benthopelagic fishes.
        • FAMILY NEOSCOPELIDAE
        • Blackchins. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Three-lobed rostral cartilage; head and body compressed; scales usually cycloid. Maximum length 30cm.
        • Neoscopelus, Scopelengys, Solivomer.
        • FAMILY MYCTOPHIDAE
        • Lanternfishes. Marine; show vertical migration (300-1200m during the daylight hours up to 10-100m at night); Arctic to Antarctic oceans. Small photophores arranged in groups; scales usually cycloid; swim bladder persent.
        • Subfamily Myctophinae: Benthosema, Centrobranchus, Diogenichthys, Electrona, Gonichthys, Hygophum, Myctophum, Protomyctophum, Symbolophorus, Tarletonbeania.
        • Subfamily Lampanyctinae: Bolinichthys, Ceratoscopelus, Diaphus, Gymnoscopelus, Lampadena, Lampanyctus, Nannobrachium, Notolychnus, Notoscopelus, Scopelopsis, Stenobrachius, Triphoturus.
  • ACANTHOMORPHA – SPINY-RAYED FISHES These fishes have true fin spines on the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins. They have a rich fossil history dating from the Cretaceous
    • SUPERORDER LAMPRIOMORPHA
      • ORDER LAMPRIFORMES (LAMPRIDIFORMES, ALLOTRIOGNATHI)
      • Opahs. No true fin spines; unique type of protrusible jaw; swim bladder, when present, physoclistous.
      • Upper Paleocene to present.
      • UNASSIGNED EXTINCT GENERA+: Bajaichthys, Paleocentrootus, Veronavelifer.
      • UNASSIGNED FAMILY TURKMENIDAE+
      • Fish with long pelvic fins.
      • Upper Paleocene to lower Oligocene.
      • Turkmene, Danatinia, Analectis.
      • FAMILY VELIFERIDAE
      • Velifers. Marine; near-shore; Indian and western mid-Pacific. Body deep, compressed; pelvic fins almost directly below pectoral fin; dorsal and anal fins long; caudal fin forked; swim bladder branched dorsally. Maximum length 40cm.
      • Eocene to present.
      • Veronavelifer, Metavelifer, Palaeocentrotus+ (Denmark)
      • FAMILY LAMPRIDAE (LAMPRIDIDAE)
      • Marine; pelagic; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Body oval and compressed; dorsal and anal fins long; tiny cycloid scales. Maximum length 1.8m.
      • Lampris.
      • FAMILY STYLEPHORIDAE
      • Tube-Eyes or Thread-Tails. Marine abyssal; most oceans. Body ribbon-like; dorsal fin along all of back; pelvic and pectoral fins horizontal; caudal fin forked with very long thread-like lower fork; eyes stalkes; mouth protractile; teeth small. At depths of 300-800m. Maximum length 31cm.
      • Stylephorus.
      • FAMILY LOPHOTIDAE
      • Crestfishes. Marine; most oceans. Body covered with deciduous cycloid scales; anal fin small; dorsal finvery long, extending from rostrum to, bbut not joined with, the caudal fin; ink sac that discharges through the cloaca.
      • Lophotus, Eumecichthys
      • FAMILY RADIICEPHALIDAE
      • Tapertails. Marine; central and eastern Atlantic and New Guinea. Body long and laterally compressed; tapers to a long, thread-like tail; long dorsal fin; swim bladder; brown ink sac. Maximum length 70cm.
      • Radiicephalus
      • FAMILY TRACHYPTERIDAE
      • Ribbonfishes. Marine; Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Body naked with deciduous scales; caudal fin distinctively at a right angle to the body; pelvic fins lost; dorsal fin very long; large eyes; teeth. Maximum length 1.7m.
      • Desmodema, Trachipterus, Zu
      • FAMILY REGALECIDAE
      • Oarfish. Marine; all oceans. No scales, no anal fin; dorsal fin very long, anterior end of dorsal fin much higher and bright red; no teeth; no swim bladder. Maximum length 8m, the longest of the Osteichthyes.
      • Regalescus, Agrostichthys
    • SUPERORDER POLYMIXIOMORPHA (Incertae Sedis)
      • ORDER POLYMIXIIFORMES
      • Beardfishes. The synapomorphy that unites the small group of one family is the presence of a palato-premaxillary ligament passing between the maxillary lateral processes.
        • FAMILY POLYMIXIIDAE
        • Beardfishes. Marine; tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific. The body is elongate and compressed; pair of barbels; dorsal fin with 4-6 spines and almost to the tail; anal fin shorter but beneathe dorsal fin; pelvic fins subabdominal; only acanthomorph with two sets of epipleurals (intermuscular bones). Maximum length 38cm.
        • Upper Cretaceous to present.
        • Polymixia, Berycopsis+, Dalmatichthys+, Omosoma+, Omosomopsis+
      • ORDER CTENOTHRISSIFORMES+
      • Maybe primitive sister group to the paracanthopterigian-acanthopterigian assemblages (Nelson, 2006).
      • Upper Cretaceous
      • Aulolepis, Ctenothrissa
    • SUPERORDER PARACANTHOPTERYGII
      • ORDER PERCOPSIFORMES
      • Trout-perches. Mouth nonprotractile; ectopterygoid and palatine with teeth; pelvic fins behind pectorals; spines present in dorsal fin; ctenoid scales. All freshwater.
        • FAMILY PERCOPSIDAE
        • Trout-Perches; Freshwater; northern North America. Vomer toothless; ctenoid and cycloid scales; adipose fin; anal fin with spines; pelvic fin subthoracic. Maximum length 20cm.
        • Percpopsis
        • FAMILY APHREDODERIDAE
        • Pirate Perch. Freshwater; eastern US, Atlantic drainage from Long Island to Gulf of Mexico; Mississippi drainage; and Great Lakes drainage. Ctenoid scales; dorsal fin with 3-4 spines; anal fin 2-3 spines; pelvic fin subthoracic; no adipose fin; vomer toothed. In adults, the anus opens between the gill membranes. Maximum length 13cm.
        • Aphredoderus
        • FAMILY AMBLYOPSIDAE
        • Cavefishes. Freshwater southern and eastern US. Cycloid scales; head naked; eyes reduced or missing; dorsal fin with 0-2 spines; pelvic fins usually absent; sensory papilli in rows over the body; anus between gill membranes; no adipose fin; vomer with teeth. Usually live in caves.
        • Ambylopsis, Chlorogaster, Forbesichthys, Speoplatyrhinus, Typhlichthys
      • ORDER SPHENOCEPHALIFORMES+
      • This order of extinct fishes seems to be transitional between the paracopththerygia and the anacanthines. Patterson and Rosen (1989) consider it to be a sister to the anacanthines. The order has a single family.
        • FAMILY SPHENOCEPHALIDAE
        • These fish were marine and had a small supramaxilla and no adipose fin.
        • Upper Cretaceous of Europe.
        • Sphenocephalus
  • ANACANTHINES
  • These have no myodome or parapophyses (on the first 3 vertebrae)
    • ORDER GADIFORMES
      • Cods. These are almost exclusively marine. The cods have pelvic fins that are inserted at or in front of the pectorals. They have no true spines. In general, they have long dorsal and anal fins. The scales usually are cycloid. The whole upper jaw margin is supported by the premaxilla. The mouth may or may not be protractile. They have a characteristic otolith. The cods are among the most important commercial fishes in the world and comprise up to 25% of the annual catch.
      • FAMILY MURAENOLEPIDIDAE
      • Eel Cods. Marine; cold temperate and Antarctic continental shelves. Body eel-like with second dorsal and anal fins continuous with the caudal fin; the first dorsal fin reduced to a few rays; chin barbel. Maximum length 40cm.
      • Muraenolepis
      • FAMILY BREGMACEROTIDAE
      • Codlets. Marine (sometimes estuaries); tropical and subtropical seas. Fish with two dorsal fins and a long anal fin; first dorsal a single long bristle-like ray; pelvic fins under the head and bristle-like; vomer toothed.
      • Bregramceros
      • FAMILY EUCLICHTHYIDAE
      • Eucla Cod. Marine; benthopelagic around New Zealand and Australia. Two dorsal fins; first one is high and fin-like, the second is long and low; anal fin also long; no chin barbel; pelvic fin under the head and bristle-like.
      • Euclichthys
      • FAMILY MACROURIDAE
      • Grenadiers (Rattails). Marine; deep water Arctic to Antarctic. Second dorsal fin and anal fin continuous; caudal fin absent; first dorsal fin supported by spine; chin barbel; pelvic fin fin-like and beneath pectoral fin; some with light organ as luminous dots along midline of abdomen. Maximum length 80cm.
      • Subfamily Bathygadinae: Bathygadus, Gadomus
      • Subfamily Macrouroidinae: Macrouroides, Squalogradus
      • Subfamily Trachyrincinae: Idiolophorhynchus, Trachyrincinus
      • Subfamily Macrourinae: Albatrossia, Cetonurus, Caelorinchus, Coryphaenoides, Hymenocephalus, Lepidorhynchus, Macrourus, Malacocephalus, Mesobius, Nezumia, Pseudonezumia
      • FAMILY MORIDAE
      • Deepsea Cods. Marine; deep water; all oceans. One or two dorsal fins; one or two anal fins; chin barbel; vomer usually toothless; otophysic connection; some with light organ.
      • Antimora, Auchenoceros, Gadella, Halargyreus, Laemonema, Lepidion, Lotella, Mora, Paralaemonema, Physiculus, Pseudophycis, Salilota, Tripterophycis
      • FAMILY MELANONIDAE
      • Pelagic Cods. Marine; bathypelagic; Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and subantarctic oceans. Single dorsal fin; no barbel; no otophysic connection.
      • Melanonus
      • FAMILY MERLUCCIIDAE
      • Merlucid Hakes. Marine; Atlantic (both sides, the Mediterranean and Black Seas), Indian, and eastern Pacific oceans. Two dorsal fins.
      • Eocene to present.
      • Subfamily Merlucciinae (Hakes and Whitings) separate caudal fin: Merluccius, Rhinocephalus+
      • Subfamily Macrouronidae (Southern Hakes) Second dorsal and anal fin continuous with caudal fin: Lyconus, Macruronus, Lyconodes
      • Subfamily Steindachneriidae (Luminous Hakes) Luminous organ; no caudal fin: Steindachneria
      • FAMILY PHYCIDAE
      • Phycid Hakes. Marine; mainly Atlantic but also south Africa; New Zealand, and Japan. One anal fin; specialized otoliths.
      • Subfamily Gaidropsarinae (Rocklings) three dorsal fins: Gaidropsarus, Ciliata, Enchelyopus
      • Subfamily Phycinae two dorsal fins: Phycis, Urophycis
      • FAMILY GADIDAE
      • Cods. Marine (one freshwater); Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans. First dorsal fin behind head; vomer toothed; swim bladder not connected to otoliths. Maximum length 1.8m.
      • Subfamily Lotinae (Cuskfishes) one anal fin; chin barbel but no snout barbel; caudal fin rounded: Brosme, Lota, Molva.
      • Subfamily Gadinae (Cods and Hakes) Three dorsal and two anal fins; caudal fin truncate: Arctogadus, Boreogadus, Eleginus, Gadiculcus, Gadus, Melanogrammus, Merlangius, Microgadus, Micromesistius, Pollachius, Theragra, Trispoterus.
      • Subfamily Ranicipitinae (Tadpole Cods) Two dorsal fins, the first bristle-like; chin barbel; maximum length 30cm: Raniceps.
    • ORDER OPHIDIIFORMES
    • Cusk-Eels. Pelvic fins (when present) beneath the operculum; dorsal and anal fins long
      • SUBORDER OPHIDIOIDEI
      • Anterior nostril well above lip; caudal fins continuous with dorsal and anal fins and tapering to a point.
        • FAMILY CARAPIDAE
        • Pearlfishes. Marine; Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Larvae planktonic with ling thread-like dorsal fin; anal fin higher than dorsal fin; teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines.
        • Subfamily Carapinae (Fierasferidae) no pelvic fins; jaw not protractile; some hide in living animals like sea cucumbers; maximum length 30cm: Echiodon, Eurypleurodon, Carapus, Onuxodon, Encheliophis.
        • Subfamily Pyramodontinae: jaw protractile: Pyramodon, Snyderidia.
        • FAMILY OPHIDIIDAE
        • Cusk-Eels. Marine, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Body eel-like with long dorsal and anal fins. Maximum length 2m.
        • Subfamily Brotulinae: Barbels on chinand snout: Brotula.
        • Subfamily Brotulotaeniinae: No barbels; scales prickly: Brotulotaenia.
        • Subfamily Ophidiinae: No barbels; cycloid scales: Cherublemma, Genypterus, Lepophidium, Chilara, Ophidion, Otophidium, Parophidion, Raneya.
        • Subfamily Neobythitinae: No barbels; cycloid scales; no pelvic fins: Abyssobrotula, Acanthonus, Bassogigas, Bassozetus, Dicrolene, Eretmichthys, Glyptophidium, Homostolus, Lamprogrammus, Monomitopus, Neobythites, Petrotyx, Porogadus, Sirembo, Spectrunculus.
      • SUBORDER BYTHITOIDEI
      • Anterior nostril just above lip; viviparous.
        • FAMILY BYTHITIDAE
        • Viviparous Brotulas. Mostly marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Usually with scales; opercular spine present and strong. They range from abyssal zone to estuaries.
        • Subfamily Bythitinae: Caudal and anal fins continuous with caudal fin: Bellotia, Blythites, Calamopteryx, Cataetyx, Diplacanthopoma, Gerhardia, Grammonus, Lucifuga, Saccogaster, Stygnobrotula, Tuamotuichthys.
        • Subfamily Brosmophycinae: Caudal fin separate from caudal and anal fins: Bidenichthys, Brosmophycis, Dermatopsis, Dinematichthys, Gunterichthys, Melodichthys, Ogilbia, Ogilbichthys, Typhliasina.
        • FAMILY APHYONIDAE
        • Aphyonids. Marine; Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. No scales; no swim bladder; dorsal and anal fins continuous with the caudal fin; pelvic fins below pectorals and bristle-like; most below 700m.
        • Aphyonus, Barathronus, Meteoria, Nybelinella, Parasciadonus, Sciadonus.
        • FAMILY PARABROTULIDAE
        • False Brotulas. Marine; Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. No scales; eel-like; mouth small with protruding lower jaw; dorsal and anal fins continuous with caudal fin; no pelvic fins. Maximum length 6cm.
        • Parabrotula, Leucobrotula.
    • ORDER BATRACHOIDIFORMES (HAPLODOCI)
    • Body scaleless; head large with dorsally-placed eyes; mouth large; pelvic fins beneath head; swim bladder present and capable of making sounds in some; first dorsal fin with spines, poisonous in some. Benthic animals.
      • FAMILY BATRACHOIDIDAE
      • Toadfishes. Mostly marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
      • Subfamily Batrachoidinae: Three dorsal spines and an opercular spine without venom glands; no photophores; no canine teeth: Allenbatrachus, Amphichthys, Austrobatrachus, Barchatus, Batrachoides, Batrachomoeus, Batrachichthys, Bifax, Chatrabus, Halobatrachus, Halophryne, Opsanus, Perulibatrachus, Potamobatrachus, Riekertia, Sanopus, Tharbacus, Triathalassothonia.
      • Subfamily Porichthyinae: Eastern Pacific and western Atlantic. Two dorsal spinesand opercular spines; no venom glands; canine teeth: Aphos, Porichthys.
      • Subfamily Thalassophryninae: Two dorsal spines and an opercular spine, all hollow and associated with venom glands; no canine teeth: Daector, Thalassophryne.
    • ORDER LOPHIIFORMES
    • Anglerfishes. First ray of dorsal usually linear and used as bait; pelvic fins in front of the pectoral fins.
      • SUBORDER LOPHIOIDEI
      • Pelvic fins present; dorsal fin with three spines; body scaleless.
        • FAMILY LOPHIIDAE
        • Goosefishes. Marine; Arctic, Atlantic (also Mediterranean Sea), Indian, and Pacific oceans. Large, wide, flattened head; teeth well-developed; head fringed with small flaps. Up to 1.2m.
        • Eocene to present.
        • Lophoides, Lophiomus, Lophius, Sladenia, Eosladenia+.
      • SUBORDER ANTENNARIOIDEI
      • Spinous dorsal fin of three spines; pelvic fins; pectorals arm-like; swim bladder; body covered by small spines; most benthic animals.
        • FAMILY ANTENNARIIDAE
        • Frogfishes. Marine; all tropical and subtropical. Deep bodied; eyes lateral; body with loose skin and small spines; pelvic fin with a spine. Up to 36cm.
        • Allenichthys, Antennarius, Antennatus, Echinophryne, Histiophryne, Histrio, Kuiterichthys, Lophiocharon, Nudiantennarius, Phyllophryne, Rhycherus, Tathicarpus.
        • FAMILY TETRABRACHIIDAE
        • Tetrabrachiid Frogfishes. Marine; western and northern Australia, New Guinea and eastern Indonesia. Body long and compressed; mouth small; eyes small; no palatine teeth.
        • Tetrabrachium
        • FAMILY LOPHICHTHYIDAE
        • Lophichthyid Frogfishes. Marine; western New Guinea; palatine teeth.
        • Lophichthys.
        • FAMILY BRACHIONICHTHYIDAE
        • Handfishes (Warty Anglers). Marine; southern Australia, mainly Tasmania. Body deep; skin naked or with denticles; second and third dorsal spines connected by membrane; pelvic fin with one spine. Maximum length 15cm.
        • Brachioichthys.
      • SUBORDER OGCOCEPHALIOIDEI
      • Second dorsal spine reduced and in the skin of the head.
        • FAMILY CHAUNACIDAE
        • Coffinfishes or Sea Toads. Marine; Atl antic, Indian, Pacific oceans. Globose; skin with denticles; no spines in the dorsal fin; mouth ablique; usually pink to deep red-orange. Maximum size 35cm.
        • Bathychaunax, Chaunax.
        • FAMILY OGCOCEPHALIDAE
        • Batfishes. Marine; all tropical seas in outer continental slopes. Body dorsoventrally flattened; remnant of second dorsal fin spine; tubercle-like scales; the fish “walk” on the bottom with their arm-like pectoral fins. Up to 40cm.
        • Coelophrys, Halieutopsis, Dibranchus, Halieutea, Halicmetus, Malthopsis, Halieutichthys, Ogcocephalus, Solocisquama, Zalieutes.
        • FAMILY CAULOPHRYNIDAE
        • Fanfins. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Mature males feed parasitically on females; very long dorsal and anal rays.
        • Robia, Caulophryne.
        • FAMILY NEOCERATIIDAE
        • Toothed Seadevils. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. No illicium; long teeth outside of the mouth; males parasites of females.
        • Neoceratias.
        • FAMILY MELANOCETIDAE
        • Black Seadevils. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Animal almost all head; dorsal, anal and caudal fins; pectoral fin high (about level with the eye).
        • Melanocetus.
        • FAMILY HIMANTOLOPHIDAE
        • Footballfishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Body spheroid; all fins about same size; elaborate illicium; head blunt. Up to 46cm.
        • Himantolophus.
        • FAMILY DICERATIIDAE
        • Double Anglers. Marine; continental shelves and slopes of tropical and subtropica seas. Second dorsal fin ray exposed tipped with a light organ; skin spines.
        • Diceratias, Bufoceratias.
        • FAMILY ONEIRODIDAE
        • Dreamers. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Nakes with a few spines; second dorsal fin spine.
        • Bertella, Chaenophryne, Ctenochirichthys, Danaphryne, Dermatius, Dolopichthys, Lophodolos, Microphichthys, Oneirodes, Pietschichthys, Puck.
        • FAMILY THAUMATICHTHYIDAE
        • Wolftrap Anglers. Marine; Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Small barbel; upper jaw extends far beyond lower jaw.
        • Lasiognathus, Thaumatichthys.
        • FAMILY CENTROPHRYNIDAE
        • Deepsea Anglerfishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Small barbel; skin with small spines.
        • Centrophryne.
        • FAMILY CERATIIDAE
        • Seadevils. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Some of the dorsal fin rays modified into small fleshy appendages. Maximum length 1.2m.
        • Ceratias, Cryptopsaras.
        • FAMILY GIGANTACTINIDAE
        • Whipnose Anglers. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Body long; illicium longer than body and whip-like; upper jaw longer than lower jaw.
        • Gigantactis, Rhynchactis.
        • FAMILY LINOPHRYNIDAE
        • Leftvents. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Gulf of Panama. Males parasites on females; elaborate barbels and illicium.
        • Linophryne, Acentrophryne, Borophryne, Haplophryne, Photocorynus.
    • SUPERORDER ACANTHOPTERYGII
      • These teleosts have a very mobile jaw because of a well developed ascending process on the premaxilla. This does lead to the loss of the protrusible jaw in some of the acanthopterygian lines. The ligament that supports the pectoral skeleton attaches to the first vertebrae.
        • MUGILOMORPHA
        • ORDER MUGILIFORMES
        • The Mullets.
          • FAMILY MUGILIDAE
          • Mullets. Marine and brackish waters of coastals waters of all tropical and temperate seas. First dorsal fin of four spines, second dorsal fin of soft rays; anal fin beneath second dorsal; pectoral fins high on body; pelvic fins abdominal; most with cycloid scales; teeth small or absent; long gill rakers (filter feeders); intestine very long.
          • Agonostomus, Aldrichetta, Cestraetus, Chaenomugil, Chelon, Crenimugil, Joturus, Liza, Mugil, Myxus, Neomyxus, Oedalechilus, Plicomugil, Rhinomugil, Sicamugil, Valamugil, Xenomugil.
        • ATHERINOMORPHA
        • ORDER ATHERINIFORMES
        • Silversides. Usually with separated dorsal fins, the first is soft; anal fin usually with a spine; pectoral fins high on the body; pelvic fins.
          • SUBORDER ATHERINOPSOIDEI
            • FAMILY AETHERINOPSIDAE
            • New World Silversides. Marine and freshwater; temperate to tropical waters of the Americas. Dorsal fins separated; body translucent with a stripe; premaxilla highly protractile. Maximum length 1m (Pacific species).
            • Subfamily Atherinopsinae: Atherinops, Atherinopsis, Colpichthys, Leuresthes, Basilichthys, Odontesthes, Austromenidia, Cauque.
            • Subfamily Menidiinae: Labidesthes, Menidia, Atherinella, Membras, Melinorhinus.
        • SUBORDER ATHERINOIDEI
          • FAMILY NOTOCHEIRIDAE (ISONIDAE)
          • Surf Sardines. Marine; coastal Indian, west Pacific, and southern South America. Pectoral fin very high; body deepest at pectoral fin. Maximum length 5 cm.
          • Iso, Notocheirus.
          • FAMILY MELANOTAENIIDAE
          • Rainbowfishes and Blue Eyes. Freshwater or brakish water; Madagascar to New Guinea and northern Australia. Distal premaxillary teeth large; dorsal fins close together; the first with a stout spine; anal fin with a stout spine.
          • Subfamily Bedotiinae (Madagascar Rainbowfishes) anal fin spine weak or absent: Bedotia, Rheocles.
          • Subfamily Melanotaeniinae (Rainbowfishes) strong spine on leading edge of anal fin: Chilatherina, Glossolepis, Melanotaenia, Cairnsichthys, Rhadinocentrus, Iratherina, Pelangia.
          • Subfamily Pseudomugilinae (Blue Eyes) fin spines present but not rigid; no fins on second dorsal fin: Kiunga, Pseudomugil, Scaturiginichthys.
          • Subfamily Telmatherininae (Celebes Rainbowfishes): Kalyptatherina, Marosatherina, Paratherina, Telmatherina, Tominanga.
          • FAMILY ATHERIONIDAE
          • Picklenose Silversides. Marine; tropical and subtropical of Indian, western Pacific, and Australia. Denticles on outside of mouth and head; first dorsal fin with 3-6 spines; anal fin with 1 spine. Maximum length 5.5cm.
          • Altherion.
          • FAMILY PHALLOSTETHIDAE
          • Tusked Silversides and Priapumfishes. Freshwater and marine; southeast Asia. All compressed and transparent.
          • Subfamily Dentatherininae (Tusked Silversides) paraspenoids enlarged beneath orbits: Dentatherina.
          • Subfamily Phallostethinae (Priapumfishes) males with copulatory organ beneath the head: Neostethus, Phallostethus, Phenacostethus, Gullaphallus.
          • FAMILY ATHERINIDAE
          • Old World Silversides. Marine; pelagic coastal and freshwater; Atlantic and Indian-west Pacific. Dorsal fins widely separated, the first with two to five spines; body translucent. Maximum length 10cm.
          • Subfamily Atherinomorinae: Alepidomus, Atherinomorus, Hypoatherina, Stenatherina, Teramulus.
          • Subfamily Craterocephalinae (Hardyheads): Craterocephalus, Quirichthys.
          • Subfamily Atherininae: Atherina, Atherinason, Atherinosoma, Kestratherina, Leptatherina.
      • ORDER BELONIFORMES
      • Needlefishes. Lower caudal fin lobe with more fin rays than upper lobe; fixed jaw
        • SUBORDER ADRIANICHTHYOIDEI
          • FAMILY ADRIANICHTHYIDAE
          • Adrianichthyids. Brackish water and freshwater; India to Japan and south to Australia. No vomer; no lateral line.
          • Subfamily Oryziinae (Madkas or Ricefishes) sexual dimorphism, male dorsal and anal fins larger than female; egg layers: Oryzias.
          • Subfamily Adrianichthys (Duckbilled Fishes) jaws very large with scoop-shovel mouth; egg layers; brood on belly: Adrianichthys, Xenopoecilus.
          • Subfamily Horaichthyinae: Body thin and translucent; males inseminate females which lay fertilized eggs: Horaichthys
        • SUBORDER BELONOIDEI (EXOCOETOIDEI)
        • Elongated lower jaws in most.
          • FAMILY EXOCOETIDAE
          • Flyingfishes. Marine; tropical to warm temperate; pelagic; Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Jaws equal in length; pectoral fins very large and high on the body (used for gliding flights); pelvic fins serve as wings in some; lower lobe of the caudal fin enlarged. Maximum length 45cm.
          • Subfamily Oxyporhamphinae: Oxyporhamphus.
          • Subfamily Fodiatorinae: Fodiator.
          • Subfamily Parexocoetinae: Parexocoetus.
          • Subfamily Exocoetinae: Exocoetus.
          • Subfamily Cypselurinae: Cheilopogon, (Cypselurus?), Hirundichthys, Danichthys, Prognichthys.
          • FAMILY HEMIRAMPHIDAE
          • Halfbeaks. Marine and freshwater; tropical to warm temperate; epipelagic, coastal and offshore; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Lower jaw very long. Maximum length 40cm. They are herbivorous without stomaches.
          • Subfamily Hemiraphinae: external fertilization: Arrhamphus, Chiriodorus, Euleptorhamphus, Hemiramphus, Hyporhymphus, Melapedalion, Rhynchorhamphus.
          • Subfamily Zenarchopterinae: anal fin modified for internal fertilization: Dermogenys, Hemirhamphodon, Nomorhamphus, Tondanichthys, Zenarchopterus.
          • FAMILY BELONIDAE
          • Needlefishes. Marine and freshwater; South America, India, Pakistan, southeast Asia; tropical to warm temperate; epipelagic in Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Both jaws extend into a long beak with many small sharp teeth; some resemble halfbeaks; dorsal and anal fins near tail, which has an enlarged lower lobe. Maximum length 1.5m.
          • Ablennes, Belone, Belonion, Petalichthys, Platybelone, Potamorrhaphis, Pseudotylosurus, Strongylura, Tylosurus, Xenentodon.
          • FAMILY SCOMBERESOCIDAE
          • Sauries. Marine; epipelagic; tropical to temperate seas. Four to seven finlets after dorsal and anal fins; mouth small, some may form beaks.
          • Scomberesox, Cololabis.
      • ORDER CYPRINODONTIFORMES (MICROCYPRINI)
      • Killifishes.
        • SUBORDER APLOCHEILOIDEI
        • Pelvic fins close together.
          • FAMILY APLOCHEILIDAE
          • Asian Rivulines. Freshwater; Madagascar, Seychelles, India, Sri Lanka; Indo-Malaysian archipelago. Black dot on dorsal fin of female.
          • Aplocheilus, Pachypanchax.
          • FAMILY NOTHOBRANCHIIDAE
          • African Rivulines. Freshwater; continental Africa south of the Sahara. Three red stripes on postorbital region of males.
          • Aphyosemion, Epiplatys, Fundulopanchax, Nothobranchius, Adamas, Foerschichthys.
          • FAMILY RIVULIDAE
          • New World Rivulines. Freshwater; from Florida, central US to Uruguay and northern Argentina. Pelvic fins absent in some. Maximum length 20cm.
          • Aphyolebias, Austrofundulus, Austrolebias, Campellolebias, Cynolebias, Cynopoecilus, Gnatholebias, Kryptolebias, Leptolebias, Maratecoara, Megalebias, Micromoema, Millerichthys, Moema, Nematolebias, Neofundulus, Papiliolebias, Pituana, Plesiolebias, Pterolebias, Rachovia, Renova, Rivulus, Simpsonichthys, Spectrolebias, Stenolebias, Terranatos, Trigonectes.
        • SUBORDER CYPRINODONTOIDEI
          • FAMILY PROFUNDULIDAE
          • Middle American Killifishes. Freshwater; Mexico, Guatemala, and Hondouras. External fertilization.
          • Profundulus.
          • FAMILY GOODEIDAE
          • Goodeids. Freshwater; Nevada to Mexico.
          • Subfamily Empetrichthyinae: Pelvic fins absent; external fertilization: Crenichthys, Empetrichthys.
          • Subfamily Goodeinae: Viviparous with internal fertilization by an andropodium: Allodontichthys, Alloophorus, Allotoca, Ameca, Ataeniobius, Chapalichthys, Characodon, Giardinichthys, Goodea, Hubbsina, Ilyodon, Skiffia, Xenophorus, Xenotaenia, Xenotoca, Zoogoneticus.
          • FAMILY FUNDULIDAE
          • Topminnows. Freshwater, brackish water, and marine; lowlands of North America from southeastern Canada to the Yucatan, the Mississippi, Cuba and Bermuda. Maxilla twisted. Maximum length 30cm. Many are euryhaline.
          • Adinia, Fundulus, Leptolucania, Lucania.
          • FAMILY VALENCIIDAE
          • Valencia Toothcarps. Freshwater; Spain, Italy and Greece. Fertilization external.
          • Valencia.
          • FAMILY CYPRINODONTIDAE
          • Pupfishes. Freshwater, coastal, brackish water; US and Central America, West Indies, South America, North Africa, and Anatolia. Fertilization external. Maximum length 8cm.
          • Subfamily Cubanichthyinae: large supraoccipital crest: Cubanichthys.
          • Subfamily Cyprinodontinae: jaw teeth in one series: Orestias, Aphanias, Umbra, Cyprinodon, Megupsilon, Floridichthys, Jordanella.
          • FAMILY ANABLEPIDAE
          • Four-Eyed Fishes. Freshwater and brackish water; southern Mexico through South America. Pectoral fins abdominal; dorsal fin near tail, behind insertion of anal fin.
          • Subfamily Anablepinae (Four-Eyed Fishes and One-Sided Livebearers) Gonopodium tubular and derived from anal fin; viviparous: Anableps, Jenynsia.
          • Subfamily Oxyzygonectinae (White Eye) No gonopodium: Oxyzygonectes.
          • FAMILY POECILIIDAE
          • Livebearers. Freshwater and brackish water; eastern US to South America, Africa and Madagascar. Pectoral fins high on the side of the body; gonopodium present or absent.
          • Subfamily Aplocheilichthyinae (Banded Lampeyes) Western coastal Africa: Aplocheilichthys.
          • Subfamily Procatopodinae (Lampeyes) South America and Africa: Fluviphylax, Micropanchax, Platypanchax, Lamprichthys, Pantanodon, Hypsopanchax, Procatopus, Cynopanchax, Plataplochilus.
          • Subfamily Poeciliinae (Livebearers) Gonopodium; ovoviparous; through the Americas; includes guppies and mollys: Alfaro, Priapella, Belonesox, Brachyrhaphis, Gambusia, Heterandria, Neoheterandria, Poeciliopsis, Priapichthys, Pseudopoecilia, Xenophallus., Carlhubbsia, Giardinus, Quintana, Limia, Micropoecilia, Pamphorichthys, Phallichthys, Poecilia, Xiphophorus, Cnesterodon, Phalloceros, Phalloptychus, Phallotorynus, Tomeurus, Scolichthys, Xenodexia.
  • PERCOMORPHA. The most derived teleost clade. The pelvic girdle is directly attached to the pectoral girdle.
    • ORDER STEPHANOBERYCIFORMES
    • Pricklefishes. Body round; toothless palate, skull very thin.
      • FAMILY MELAMPHAIDAE
      • Bigscale Fishes. Marine; bathypelagic of most oceans except the Arctic and Mediterranian Sea. Dorsal fin with one to three spines at the leading edge; pelvic fin thoracic with one spine; caudal fin with spines at the leading edge; scales cycloid.
      • Melamphaes, Poromitra, Scolopeloberyx, Scopelogradus, Sio.
      • FAMILY STEPHANOBERYCIDAE
      • Pricklefishes. Marine; tropical and subtropical; western Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Spines at leading edges of dorsal and anal fins; no spines in pelvic fin; spines at leading edge of the caudal fin; scales may be spiny.
      • Acanthochaenus, Malacosarcus, Stephanoberyx.
      • FAMILY HIPSIDOBERYCIDAE
      • Hispidoberycids. Marine; eastern Indian Ocean and South China Sea. Scales with spines; operculum with spine; palatine and vomerine teeth; dorsal and anal fins with spines at the leading edges.
      • Hispidoberyx.
      • FAMILY GIBBERICHTHYIDAE
      • Gibberfishes. Marine; tropical western Atlantic, western Indian, and western Pacific. Pelvic fin abdominal with one spine; dorsal and anal fins with isolated spines at leading edges; scales cycloid. Maximum length 12cm.
      • Gibberichthys.
      • FAMILY RONDELETIIDAE
      • Redmouth Whalefishes. Marine; open ocean. Head boxy; smooth skin. Maximum length 11cm.
      • Rondeletia.
      • FAMILY BARBOURISIIDAE
      • Red Whalefishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Skin spiny; red-orange. Maximum length 39cm.
      • Barbourisia.
      • FAMILY CETOMIMIDAE
      • Flabby Whalefishes. Marine; open Ocean. No pelvic fins; skin loose and naked; with luminous organ; with brilliant orange or red jaws and fins. Maximum length 39cm.
      • Cetichthys, Cetomimus, Cetostoma, Danacetichthys, Ditropichthys, Gyrinomimus, Notocetichthys, Procetichthys, Rhamphocetichthys.
      • FAMILY MIRAPINNIDAE
      • Tapertails. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific Oceans. Scaleless; dorsal and anal fins about equal in size and opposite; pelvic fin in front of pectoral fin and modified.
      • Subfamily Miripinninae (Hairyfish) covered with hair-like soft spines; pelvic fins wing-like: Mirapinna.
      • Subfamily Eutaeniophorinae (Tapertails or Ribbonbearers): caudal fin with streamer in juveniles: Eutaeniophorus, Parataeniophorus.
      • FAMILY MEGALOMYCTERIDAE
      • Largenose Fishes. Marine; bathypelagic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Head blunt due to enlargement of olfactory organs; pelvic fin absent.
      • Ataxolepis, Cetomimoides, Megalomycter, Vitiaziella.
    • ORDER BERYCIFORMES
    • Alfanso Squirrelfishes. Pelvic fins with more than 5 soft rays; all have a sensory organ called Jakubowski’s organ in the anterior part of the supraorbital and infraorbital sensory canals.
      • SUBORDER TRACHICHTHYOIDEI
        • FAMILY ANOPLOGASTRIDAE
        • Fangtooths. Marine; bathypelagic; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Body short, deep, and compressed; adults with fang-like teeth; scales present but minute; fins spineless. Maximum length 16cm.
        • Anoplogaster.
        • FAMILY DIRETMIDAE
        • Spinyfins. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Dorsal and anal fins spineless; pelvic fin with spine.
        • Diretmichthys, Diretmoides, Diretmus.
        • FAMILY ANOMALOPIDAE
        • Flashlight Fishes. Marine, warm-water fishes; mainly Indian and Pacific oceans. Luminous organ with shutter beneath eye (luminous bacteria grow in pouch); pelvic fin with one spine; dorsal fin with up to 6 spines.
        • Anomalops, Photoblepharon, Kryptophanaron, Parmops, Phthanopaneron, Protoblepharon.
        • FAMILY MONOCENTRIDAE
        • Pinecone Fishes. Marine; tropical and subtropical Indian and Pacific oceans. Body covered with plate-like scales; luminous organ (symbiotic luminous bacteria) on lower jaw; pelvic fin with one spine; two dorsal fins, the first with up to seven spines. Maximum length 21cm.
        • Cleidopus, Monocentris.
        • FAMILY TRACHICHTHYIDAE
        • Roughies. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Distinctive spine associated with operculum; pelvic fin with one spine; dorsal fin with up to eight spines; anal fin with up to three spines; caudal fin with four to seven spines on each lobe; some with luminous organs. Up to 55cm.
        • Aulotrachichthys, Gephyroberyx, Hoplostethus, Optivus, Paratrachichthys, Sorosichthys, Trachichthys.
      • SUBORDER BERYCOIDEI
        • FAMILY BERYCIDAE
        • Alfonsos. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, western and central Pacific oceans. Pelvic fine with one spine; dorsal fin without a notch and with four to seven spines; anal fin with four spines.
        • Beryx, Centroberyx.
      • SUBORDER HOLOCENTROIDEI
      • This group has a fossil history from the upper Cretaceous to the present the following extinct general belong to this suborder: Ammoberyx+, Caproberyx+, Paracentrus+, Trachichthyoides+, Africentrum+, Berybolcensis+, Eoholocentrum+, Holocentrites+, Tenuicentrum+, Pelotius+.
        • FAMILY HOLOCENTRIDAE Squirrelfishes. Tropical marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Pelvic fin with one spine; dorsal fin with up to 13 spines (fin notched); anal fin with four spines; caudal fin forked; scales ctenoid (and large); large eyes. Maximum length 61cm.
        • Subfamily Holocentrinae (Squirrelfishes) strong spine on operculum (often toxic); first anal spine longer than spines of dorsal fin: Holocentrus, Neoniphon, Sargocentrum.
        • Subfamily Myripristinae (Soldierfishes) no enlarged opercular spine; anal spines shorter than dorsal spines: Myripristis, Ostichthys, Plectrypops, Corniger, Pristilepis.
        • FAMILY HOLOCENTRIDAE Squirrelfishes. Tropical marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Pelvic fin with one spine; dorsal fin with up to 13 spines (fin notched); anal fin with four spines; caudal fin forked; scales ctenoid (and large); large eyes. Maximum length 61cm.
        • Subfamily Holocentrinae (Squirrelfishes) strong spine on operculum (often toxic); first anal spine longer than spines of dorsal fin: Holocentrus, Neoniphon, Sargocentrum.
        • Subfamily Myripristinae (Soldierfishes) no enlarged opercular spine; anal spines shorter than dorsal spines: Myripristis, Ostichthys, Plectrypops, Corniger, Pristilepis.
        • FAMILY HOLOCENTRIDAE
        • Squirrelfishes. Tropical marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Pelvic fin with one spine; dorsal fin with up to 13 spines (fin notched); anal fin with four spines; caudal fin forked; scales ctenoid (and large); large eyes. Maximum length 61cm.
        • Subfamily Holocentrinae (Squirrelfishes) strong spine on operculum (often toxic); first anal spine longer than spines of dorsal fin: Holocentrus, Neoniphon, Sargocentrum.
        • Subfamily Myripristinae (Soldierfishes) no enlarged opercular spine; anal spines shorter than dorsal spines: Myripristis, Ostichthys, Plectrypops, Corniger, Pristilepis.
    • ORDER ZEIFORMES
    • Dories. Fin ray unbranched; no palatine teeth; vomerine teeth; dorsal fin with 5-10 spines; jaws can be greatly distended.
      • SUBORDER CYTTOIDEI
        • FAMILY CYTTIDAE
        • Lookdown Dories. Marine; southeastern Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific Oceans. Mouth upturned; small scales; pelvic fin with one spine.
        • Cyttus.
      • SUBORDER ZEIOIDEI
        • FAMILY OREOSTOMATIDAE
        • Oreos. Marine; Antarctic, Atlantic, Indian, ans Pacific oceans. Body deep and compressed; mouth upturned, protractile; large eyes; small scales; pelvic fin with one spine. Maximum length 50cm.
        • Allocyttus, Neocyttus, Pseudocyttus, Oreosoma.
        • FAMILY PARAZENIDAE
        • Smooth Dories. Marine; western Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Pelvic fin with no spine.
        • Subfamily Parazeninae: two dorsal fins: Parazen.
        • Subfamily Cyttopsinae: single dorsal fin: Cyttopsis, Stethopristes.
        • FAMILY ZENIONTIDAE (ZENIONIDAE)
        • Armoreye Dories. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Scales round to square.
        • Capromimus, Cyttomimus, Zenion.
        • FAMILY GRAMMICOLEPIDIDAE
        • Tinselfishes. Marine; Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Scales narrow and vertically elongate.
        • Subfamily Macurocyttinae: dorsal fin with long spines (up to 5); pelvic with one stout spine: Macrurocyttus.
        • Subfamily Grammicolepidinae: dorsal fin with 5-7 spines; anal fin with 2 spines; anal fin with one spine: Grammicolepis, Xenolepidichthys.
        • FAMILY ZEIDAE
        • Dories. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Large scales with posterior process at bases of dorsal and anal fins.
        • Zenopsis, Zeus.
    • ORDER GASTEROSTEIFORMES
    • Sticklebacks. Pelvic girdle never attached directly to the cleithra; body often with dermal plates; mouth small.
      • SUBORDER GASTEROSTEOIDEI
      • Protractile upper jaw; kidneys of males produce glue used to make nests.
        • FAMILY HYPOPTYCHIDAE
        • Sand Eel. Marine; Japan to Sea of Okhotsk . Body elongate, no spines, scales, or scales; no pelvic fins or girdle.
        • Hypoptychus.
        • FAMILY AULORHYNCHIDAE
        • Tubesnouts. Coastal marine; north Pacific. Elongate with bony scutes and short, separate dorsal spines; pelvic fin with one spine. Males with urogenital papilla.
        • Aulichthys, Aulorynchus.
        • FAMILY GASTEROSTEIDAE
        • Sticklebacks. Marine, brackish, and freshwater in the Northern Hemisphere. Bony scutes, or naked; up to 16 separate dorsal spines; pelvic fin with one spine. Maximum length 18cm.
        • Spinachia, Apeltes, Gasterosteus, Pungitius, Culaea.
        • FAMILY INDOSTOMIDAE
        • Armored Sticklebacks. Freshwater; Southeast Asia. Body elongate; covered with scutes; upper jaw not protrusible; operculum with 5-7 spines; usually 5 islolated dorsal spines. Maximum length 3.3cm.
        • Indostomus.
    • SUBORDER SYNGNATHOIDEI
    • Fish with tube-like snouts ending in small mouths, not protractile; pelvic fin abdominal.
      • FAMILY PEGASIDAE
      • Sea Moths. Mostly marine; tropical to temperate; Indian and west Pacific oceans. Body dorsoventrally flattened, in bony plates; mouth beneath elongate rostrum; short dorsal and anal fins; pectoral fins very large; pelvic fins with one spine. Maximum length 14-18cm.
      • Eurypegasus, Pegasus.
      • FAMILY SOLENOSTOMIDAE
      • Ghost Pipefishes. Marine; tropical Indian and west Pacific oceans. Body compressed with large stellate bony plates; two dorsal fins, the first with 5 weak spines; pelvic fins large with one spine. Females form brood pouch with pelvic fins.
      • Solenostomus.
      • FAMILY SYNGNATHIDAE
      • Pipefishes and Seahorses. Marine and brackish water (some in freshwater); Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Body elongate and encased in bony rings; one dorsal fin, if present; no caudal, dorsal, or pectoral fins in some; no pelvic fins; caudal peduncle may be prehensile. Males brood the eggs, some have a pouch.
      • Subfamily Syngnathinae: Acentronura, Anarchopterus, Bhanotia, Bryx, Bulbonaricus, Campichthys, Choeroichthys, Corythoichthys, Cosmocampus, Doryichthys, Doryrhamphus, Enneacampus, Festucalex, Halicampus, Heraldia, Hippichthys, Leptonotus, Lissocampus, Micrognathus, Microphis, Nerophis, Nannocampus, Penetopteryx, Phyllopteryx, Siokunichthys, Solegnathus, Syngnathoides, Syngnathus.
      • Subfamily Hippocampinae (Seahorses): Hippocampus.
      • FAMILY AULOSTOMIDAE
      • Trumpetfishes. Tropical marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Body elongate and scaly; fleshy barbel on lower jaw; 8-12 isolated dorsal spines; interwoven bony struts in musculature. Up to 80cm.
      • Aulostomus.
      • FAMILY FISTULARIIDAE
      • Cornetfishes. Marine; tropical; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Ocean. Body depressed and elongate, covered with tiny prickles and linear scutes; no dorsal spines; caudal fin forked with elingar middle filament-like rays. Generally feed among rocks and coral on a reef. Up to 1.8m.
      • Fistularia.
      • FAMILY MACRORAMPHOSIDAE
      • Snipefishes. Marine; tropical and subtropical; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Fish compressed and deep-bodied with bony plates on each side of back; first dorsal fin with spines, the second of which is very long. Maximum length 30cm.
      • Upper Cretaceous to the present.
      • Macrorhamphosus, Notopogon, Centriscops, Gasterorhamphosus+.
      • FAMILY CENTRISCIDAE
      • Shrimpfishes; Marine; Indian and Pacific oceans. Compressed, razor-like body; body covered with thin bony plates, elaborations of the vertebrae; first dorsal fin long, sharp, and at the posterior end of the body; second dorsaland caudal fins displaced to the ventral side of the animal; no teeth. They swin in vertical position, mouth down.
      • Eocene to present.
      • Aeoliscus (also fossil species), Centriscus.
  • ORDER SYNBRANCHIFORMES
  • Swamp Eels. Body elongate; pelvic fins absent. Almost all inhabit freshwater.
    • SUBORDER SYNBRANCHOIDEI
      • FAMILY SYNBRANCHIDAE
      • Swamp Eels. Freshwater (some brackish water), tropical and subtropical; western Africa, Asia, Indo-Australian Archipelago, Mexico south through South America. Body eel-like; no pectoral or pelvic fins; dorsal and anal fins very reduced; caudal fin small, vestigial, or absent; no scales; no swim bladder. Most are hermaphrodites. Most are able to breath air. Maximum length 1m.
      • Macrotrema, Ophisternon, Synbranchus, Monopterus.
    • SUBORDER MASTACEMBELOIDEI
    • Body eel-like; no pelvic fins, but dorsal and anal fins present and continuous with the caudal fin; pectoral girdle attached to the vertebral column by a ligament.
      • FAMILY CAUDHURIIDAE
      • Earthworm Eels. Freshwater; northeastern India through Thailand and Korea, including islands of Southeast Asia. No dorsal or anal fins; no scales; dorsal, anal, and caudal fins continuous. Maximum length 8cm.
      • Bihunichthys, Chaudhuria, Chendol, Garo, Nagaichthys, Pillaia.
      • FAMILY MASTACEMBELIDAE
      • Spiny Eels. Freshwater; tropical Africa to Syria, Malay Archipelago, China, and Korea. Isolated spines (9-42) in front of dorsal fin; anal fin with 2-3 spines most with small scales; proboscis-like appendage on rostrum. These animals burrow where they might hide during the day and to seek refuge from dessication. Up to 0.9m.
      • Aethiomastacembelus, Caecomastcembelus, Macrognathus, Mastacembelus, Sinobdella.
  • ORDER SCORPAENIFORMES
  • Mail-Cheeked Fishes. Head and body are spiny or have bony plates. The pectoral fin usually is rounded, membranes between the lower rays ar incised. The caudal fin is rounded.
    • SUBORDER DACTYLOPTEROIDEI
      • FAMILY DACTYLOPTERIDAE (CEPHALACANTHIDAE)
      • Flying Gurnards. Marine; tropical; Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Head blunt and bony (keels and spines); body with scute-like scales; large and colorful pectoral fins, inner rays free (they can use the pectorals to “walk” over the bottom); 2 free spines before the two dorsal fins; pelvic fins thoracic and with one spine. Maximum length 50cm.
      • Dactyloptena, Dactylopterus.
    • SUBORDER SCORPAENOIDEI
    • Fishes usually brightly colored and very venomous.
      • FAMILY SCORPAENIDAE
      • Scorpionfishes (Rockfishes). Marine; all tropical and temperate seas. Body compressed; head with ridges and spines; preopercular spines and opercular spines; scales usually ctenoid; dorsal fin usually single with a notch, 11-17 spines; anal fin 1-3 spines; pelvic fin one spine; large pectoral fin; swim bladder absent. Venom glands associated with dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines. Internal fertilization.
      • Subfamily Sebastinae: Helicolenus, Hozukius, Sebastes, Sebasticus, Adelobastes, Sebastolobus.
      • Subfamily Scorpaeninae: Idiastion, Iracundus, Neomerinthe, Parascorpaena, Phenascorpius, Pontius, Pteroidichthys, Pteropelor, Rhinopias, Scorpaena, Scorpaenodes, Scorpaenopsis, Sebastapistes, Taenianotus, Brachypterois, Dendrochirus, Ebosia, Parapterois, Pterois.
      • Subfamily Tetragoninae (Sailback Scorpionfishes or Wasp Fishes): Ablabys, Amblyapistus, Centropogon, Cottapistus, Neocentropogon, Notesthes, Ocosia, Paracentropogon, Tetraroge, Vespicula.
      • Subfamily Synanceinae (Stonefishes) Body scaleless: Minous, Inimicus, Choridactylus, Erosa, Dampierosa, Pseudosynanceia, Leptosynanceia, Trachycephalus, Synanceia.
      • Subfamily Plectrogeninae: Plectogenium.
      • FAMILY CARACANTHIDAE
      • Orbicular Velvetfishes. Marine; Indian and Pacific oceans. Body oval and compressed, covered with small papillae; mouth small; one dorsal fin with a notch and 6-8 spines; anal fin with two spines; pectoral fins large; pelvic fins reduced to a spine and a few rays.
      • Caracanthus.
      • FAMILY APLOACTINIDAE
      • Velvetfishes. Marine; coastal western Pacific and Indian oceans. Body covered with small prickly scales; head with lumps (spines?); dorsal fin origin far forward on head, first three spines followed by a notch and 11 more spines; pelvic fin with one spine; no palatine teeth.
      • Acanthosphex, Adventor, Aploactis, Aploactisoma, Bathyaploactis, Cocotropus, Erisphex, Kanekonia, Karumba, Matsubarichthys, Paraploactis, Peristrominous, Prosoproctus, Ptarmus, Sthenopus, Xenoploactis.
      • FAMILY PATAECIDAE
      • Australian Prowfishes. Marine; Australia. No pelvic fins; long dorsal fin from head to tail (19-24 spines); anal fin with 5-11 spines; pectoral fin large; no scales. Up to 30cm.
      • Aetapcus, Neopataecus, Pataceus.
      • FAMILY GNATHANACANTHIDAE
      • Red Velvetfishes. Marine; southern Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania. Pelvic fins present (1 spine); two dorsal fins, the first with 7 spines, the second with 3 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; body scaleless; two stout spines on operculum. Maximum length 30cm.
      • Gnathanacanthus.
      • FAMILY CONGOIPODIDAE
      • Racehorses, Pigfishes, Horsefishes. Marine; Southern Hemisphere. Long snout; body scaleless; skin glandular; one dorsal fin with 8-21 spines; anal fin with 0-3 spines. Maximum length 80cm.
      • Congiopodus, Alertichthys, Perryena, Zanclorhynchus.
    • SUBORDER PLATYCEPHALOIDEI
    • Fish elongate and head depressed, usually with ridges and spines. Two dorsal fins; pelvic fins widely separated with one spine; anal fin with 0-3 spines.
      • FAMILY TRIGLIDAE
      • Searobins (Gurnards). Marine; tropical and temperate seas. Terminal mouth; head large, boxy and without barbels; pectoral fin very large with 2-3 free rays, used for detecting food; two dorsal fins, the first with 7-11 spines; anal fin with 0-1 spine. Benthic fishes. Maximum length 1m.
      • Bellator, Prionotus, Pterygotrigla, Aspitrigla, Chelidonichthys, Eutrigla, Lepidotrigla, Parapterygotrigla, Trigla, Trigloporus.
      • FAMILY PERISTEDIIDAE
      • Armored Searobins. Marine; found in deep water of all tropical seas. Body covered with four rows of bony plates; mouth inferior; pectoral fin large with 2 free rays; barbels below mouth.
      • Gargariscus, Hemidodus, Peristedion, Satyrichthys.
      • FAMILY BEMBRIDAE
      • Deepwater Flatheads. Marine; Indian and Pacific oceans. Head flattened; pelvic fins below pectoral fins; first dorsal fin with 6-12 spines. Most are small red, benthic fish.
      • Bembradium, Bembradon, Bembras, Brachybembras, Parabembras.
      • FAMILY PLATYCEPHALIDAE
      • Flatheads. Marine; Indian and Pacific oceans. Head flattened; pelvic fiins behind pectoral fins; first dorsal fin with 6-12 spines, the first of which is short and almost separate. Benthic animals. Maximum length 1.1m.
      • Ambiserrula, Cociella, Elates, Eurycephalus, Grammoplites, Inegocia, Leviprora, Onigocia, Papilloculipes, Platycephalus, Rogadius, Solitas, Sorsogona, Suggrundus, Thysanophrys.
      • FAMILY HOPLICHTHYIDAE
      • Ghost Flatheads. Marine; Indian and Pacific oceans. Head flattened with spines and ridges; no scales, but with scutes along the side; lower pectoral rays free; no anal spines; first dorsal fin with 6 spines. Benthic animals. Maximum length 43cm.
      • Hoplichthys.
    • SUBORDER ANOPLOPOMATOIDEI
      • FAMILY ANOPLOPOMATIDAE
      • Sablefishes. Marine; north Pacific Ocean. Head without spines or ridges; first dorsal fin with 12-30 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; pelvic fin with one spine. Maximum length 1.8m.
      • Anoploma, Erilepis.
    • SUBORDER HEXAGRAMMOIDEI
      • FAMILY HEXAGRAMMIDAE
      • Greenlings. Marine; north Pacific. Head with cirri (no spines or ridges); scales cycloid or ctenoid; anal fin 0-3 spines; no swim bladder. Length up to 1.5m.
      • Subfamily Hexagramminae (Greenlings) dorsal fin divided by a notch into an anterior spiny fin and a posterior soft fin; anal fin without spines; head scaly: Hexagrammos.
      • Subfamily Pleurogramminae (Atka Mackerels) dorsal fin without a notch, scales partly covering head, caudal fin forked: Pleurogrammus.
      • Subfamily Ophiodontinae (Lingcod) dorsal fin divided, by a deep notch (24-28 spines in first part), head not scaly, cycloid scales on body, mouth large with some fang-like teeth: Ophiodon.
      • Subfamily Oxylebiinae (Painted Greenlings) dorsal fin divided by shallow notch, anal fin with three spines, head scaly: Oxylebius.
      • Subfamily Zaniolepidinae (Combfishes) dorsal fin with deep notch, first three spines very long, ctenoid scales: Zaniolepis.
    • SUBORDER NORMANICHTHYOIDEI
      • FAMILY NORMANICHTHYIDAE
      • Normanichthyids. Marine; coast of Chile and Peru. Body with ctenoid scales; pelvic fin with one spine.
      • Normanichthys.
    • SUBORDER COTTOIDEI
      • FAMILY RHAMPHOCOTTIDAE
      • Grunt Sculpins. Marine; north Pacific, Japan through Alaska. Pelvis modified to form a large keel; palatine without teeth; first dorsal fin 7-9 spines; short head with elongate snout. Maximum length 8cm.
      • Rhamphocottus.
      • FAMILY EREUNIIDAE
      • Deepwater Sculpins. Marine; deep water; western and central Pacific Ocean. Four lower pectoral fin rays free; spinous ctenoid scales; operculum with spines; first dorsal fin with 9-11 spines. Maximum length 30cm.
      • Ereunias, Marukawichthys.
      • FAMILY COTTIDAE
      • Sculpins. Marine and freshwater; Northern Hemisphere, Australia (near New Guinea), New Zealand. Scales small or with prickles, no bony armor; eyes large and high on the head; pelvic fins with one spine; anal fin without spines.
      • Alcichthys, Artediellus, Artedius, Ascelichthys, Asemichthys, Bero, Chitonotus, Clinocottus, Cottocomephorus, Cottus, Enophrys, Furcina, Gymnocanthus, Hemilepidotus, Icelinus, Icelus, Jordania, Leptocottus, Micrenophrys, Myoxocephalus, Oligocottus, Pseudoblennius, Radulinus, Ruscarius, Scorpaenichthys, Sigmistes, Synchirus, Taurulus, Trachidermis, Trichocottus, Triglops, Vellitor.
      • FAMILY COMEPHORIDAE
      • Baikal Oilfishes. Freshwater, pelagic; Lake Baikal. Body naked; pectoral fins long; no pelvic fins; body translucent; rich in fat. Maximum length 20cm.
      • Comephorus.
      • FAMILY ABYSSOCOTTIDAE
      • Deepwater Baikal Sculpins. Freshwater; mainly Lake Baikal. First dorsal fin with 3-10 spines; pelvic fine with one spine.
      • Abyssocottus, Asprocottus, Cottinella, Limnocottus, Neocottus, Procottus.
      • FAMILY HEMITRIPTERIDAE
      • Searavens. Marine; northwest Atlantic and north Pacific oceans. Tiny spines over the body.
      • Blepsias, Hemitripterus, Nautichthys.
      • FAMILY AGONIDAE
      • Poachers. Marine; Arctic, north Atlantic, north Pacific, and southern South America. Body covered with bony plates; pelvic fins thoracic (1 spine); first dorsal fin with 2-21 spines; no swim bladder. Maximum length 30cm.
      • Subfamily Hypsagoninae: Agonomalus, Hypsagonus, Percis.
      • Subfamily Bathyagoninae: Bathyagonus, Odontopyxis, Xeneretmus.
      • Subfamily Bothragoninae: Bothragonus.
      • Subfamily Anaplagoninae: Anoplagonus, Aspidophorides, Ulcina.
      • Subfamily Agoninae: Agonopsis, Agonus, Freemanichthys, Leptagonus, Podothecus, Sarritor.
      • Subfamily Brachyopsinae: Brachyopsis, Chesnonia, Occella, Pallasina, Stellerina, Tilesina.
      • FAMILY PSYCHROLUTIDAE
      • Fathead Sculpins. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Body either naked or with prickly bony plates; pelvic fin with 1 spine; spinous portion of dorsal continuous with the soft portion; palatine teeth absent. Maximum length 65cm.
      • Subfamily Cottunculinae: Head ossified with head spines: Ambophthalmos, Cottunculus, Dasycottus, Eurymen, Malacottus.
      • Subfamily Psychrolutinae: head poorly ossified and no head spines: Ebinania, Neophrynichthys, Psychrolutes.
      • FAMILY BATHYLUTICHTHYIDAE
      • Antarctic Sculpins. Marine; Antarctic Ocean. Body naked; a pair of long barbels at corner of the mouth; single dorsal with anterior portion under the skin (13 spines); pelvic fins and anal fins spineless.
      • Bathylutichthys.
      • FAMILY CYCLOPTERIDAE
      • Lumpfishes (Lumpsuckers). Marine; cooler water in the Northern Hemisphere. Body globose and often covered with tubercles; two short dorsal fins, the first of which has 4-8 spines (spines under the skin in some); short spineless anal fin. Maximum length 60cm.
      • Aptocyclus, Cyclopterus, Cyclopteropsis, Cyclopsis, Eumicrotremus, Lethotremus.
      • FAMILY LIPARIDAE
      • Snailfishes. Marine; Arctic to Antarctic. Body long, scaleless; skin jelly-like and sometimes with prickles; anal and dorsal fins without spines and usually confluent with the caudal fin. Maximum length 80cm.
      • Acantholiparis, Careproctus, Crystallichthys, Elassodiscus, Liparis, Lopholiparis, Nectoliparis, Notoliparis, Paraliparis, Polypera, Psednos, Rhodichthys.
  • ORDER PERCIFORMES
  • Perches. This is the largest order of vertebrates.
    • SUBORDER PERCOIDEI
    • This is the largest suborder of the Perciformes. They have spines in the dorsal, anal and pelvic fins (1 spine); they have two dorsal fins and never have an adipose fin. Scales are ctenoid.
      • FAMILY CENTROPOMIDAE
      • Snooks. Marine and freshwater; tropical and subtropical waters of North and Central America. Lower jaw extends beyond upper jaw; caudal fin forkedfirst dorsal fin with 8 spines. Maximum length 2m.
      • Centropomus.
      • FAMILY AMBASSIDAE (CHANDIDAE)
      • Asiatic Glassfishes. Marine, brackish water, and freshwater; Indian, west Pacific oceans; freshwater fishes in Madagascar, India, to Australia. Semitransparent body; no scales in some; first dorsal fin with 7-8 spines, anal fins with 3 spines. Maximum length 26cm.
      • Ambassis, Chanda, Denariusa, Gymnochanda, Paradoxodacna, Parambassis, Priopis, Tetracentrum.
      • FAMILY LATIDAE
      • Lates (Nile Perches and Barramundi). Marine, brackish water and freshwater; Indian, western Pacific, and Africa. Dorsal fins not separated; caudal fin usually rounded.
      • Lates, Scleropages.
      • FAMILY MORONIDAE
      • Temperate Basses. Brackish and freshwater, some in marine coastal area; North America (east of the Rocky Mountains), Europe, and northern Africa. Two dorsal fins, first with 8-10 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; operculum with 2 spines.
      • Morone, Dicentrarchus, Lateolabrax.
      • FAMILY PERCICHTHYIDAE
      • Temperate Perches. Freshwater; Australia, South America. Dorsal fins continuous; some with dorsal notch, 7-12 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; scales ctenoid.
      • Percichthys, Gadopsis, Guyu, Maccullochella, Macquaria, Percalates, Plectroplites, Bostockia, Edelia, Nannatherina, Nannoperca, Howella (a marine taxon).
      • FAMILY PERCILIIDAE
      • Southern Basses. Freshwater; Chile. This has uncertain status and often is placed in the Percichthyidae.
      • Percilia.
      • FAMILY ACROPOMATIDAE
      • Lanternbellies. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, Pacific oceans. Two dorsal fins, the first dorsal fin with 7-10 spines, the second dorsal fin with 0-1 spines; anal fin with 2-3 spines. These have light organs and an anus next to the pelvic fin base.
      • Acropoma, Apogonops, Doederleinia, Malakichthys, Neoscombrops, Pseudohowella, Synagrops, Verilus.
      • FAMILY SYMPHYSANODONTIDAE
      • Slopefishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Two opercular spines; dorsal fins with 9 spines.
      • Symphysanodon.
      • FAMILY POLYPRIONIDAE
      • Wreckfishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Operculum with a horizontal ridge than ends in a spine; dorsal fin with 11-12 spines.
      • Polyprion, Stereolepis.
      • FAMILY SERRANIDAE
      • Sea Basses. Mostly marine; tropical and temperate seas. Operculum with three spines; scales mostly ctenoid; dorsal fin continuous, sometimes notches with 7-13 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; pelvic fin with one spine. These fishes are hermaphroditic. Maximum length 3m.
      • Subfamily Serraninae: Bullisichthys, Centropristis, Chelidoperca, Cratinus, Diplectrum, Hypoplectrus, Paralabrax, Parasphyraenops, Schultzea, Seraniculus, Serranus.
      • Subfamily Epinephalinae (includes Groupers): Niphon, Aethaloperca, Alphestes, Anyperodon, Cephalopholis, Chromileptes, Dermatolepis, Epinephelus, Gonioplectrus, Gracilia, Mycteroperca, Paranthias, Plectropomus, Saloptia, Triso, Variola, Aulacocephalus, Belonoperca, Diploprion, Aporops, rammistes, Grammistops, Jeboehlkia, Pogonopera, Pseudogramma, Rypticus, Suttonia.
      • FAMILY CENTROGENIIDAE
      • False Scorpionfishes. Marine; eastern Indian and western Pacific oceans. Operculum with 3 forward-pointing spines; dorsal fin with 13-14 spines. Maximum length 25cm.
      • Centrogenys.
      • FAMILY OSTRACOBERYCIDAE
      • Ostracoberycids. Marine; eastern and northernIndian and western Pacific oceans. Large spine on operculum; first dorsal fin with 9 spines.
      • Ostracoberyx.
      • FAMILY CALLANTHIIDAE
      • Groppos. Marine; eastern Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin with 11 spines. Maximum length 25cm. Brightly colored.
      • Callanthias, Grammonotus.
      • FAMILY PSEUDOCHROMIDAE
      • Dotybacks. Marine; tropical Indian and Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin with 3 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; pelvic fin usually with 1-3 spines. Maximum length 45cm.
      • Subfamily Pseudochrominae: pelvic fin with 1 spine; head with scales; teeth on palatine: Assiculoides, Assiculus, Cypho, Labracinus, Ogilbyina, Pseudochromis.
      • Subfamily Pseudoplesiopinae: pelvic fin with 1 spine; head with scales; palatine teeth: Amisichthys, Chlidichthys, Lubbockichthys, Pectinochromis, Pseudoplesiops.
      • Subfamily Anisochrominae: Pelvic fine with 1 spine, head nakes, no palatine teeth, dorsal fin with 1 spine: Anisochromis.
      • Subfamily Congrogradinae (Eelblennies): Body eel-like, cycloid scales; spine before dorsal fin, no anal spines; operculum with spine: Blennodesmus, Congrogradus, Halidesmus, Halimuraena, Halimuraenoides, Haliophis, Natalichthys, Russichthys.
      • FAMILY GRAMMATIDAE (GRAMMIDAE)
      • Basslets. Marine; tropical western Atlantic Ocean. Pelvic fin with 1 spine. Maximum length 10cm.
      • Gramma, Liopogramma.
      • FAMILY PLESIOPIDAE
      • Roundheads. Marine; Indian and western Pacific oceans.
      • Subfamily Plesiopinae (Roundheads or Longfins) scales on operculum and top of head, dorsal fin with 11-15 spines, anal fin with 3 spines, pelvic fin with 1 spine. Maximum length 20cm: Assessor, Calloplesiops, Fraudella, Paraplesiops, Plesiops, Steeneichthys, Trachinops.
      • Subfamily Acanthoclininae (Spiny Basslets) head without scales, dorsal fin with 17-26 spines, anal fin with 7-16 spines, pelvic fin with one spine, up to 21cm: Acanthoclinus, Acanthoplesiops, Beliops, Belonepterygion.
      • FAMILY NOTOGRAPTIDAE
      • Bearded Eelblennies. Marine; between New Guinea and Australia and around to Queenland. Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins continuous; dorsal fins with 62-69 spines, anal fin with 37-43 spines; pelvic fin with 1 spine. Maximum length 20cm.
      • Notograptus.
      • FAMILY OPISTOGNATHIDAE
      • Jawfishes. Marine; western and central Atlantic, Indian, and western and eastern Pacific oceans. Large mouth; body with cycloid scales; dorsal fin continuous with 9-12 spines (forked at the tips); anal fin with 2-3 spines; pectoral fin with one spine; no palatine teeth. The fish are burrow dwellers and incubate their eggs in their mouths. Maximum length 40cm.
      • Opisthognathus, Lonchopisthus, Stalix.
      • FAMILY DINOPERCIDAE
      • Cavebasses. Marine; Indian and eastern Atlantic oceans. Dorsal fin single but notched with 9-11 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; protruding lower jaw.
      • Centrarchops, Dinoperca.
      • FAMILY BANJOSIDAE
      • Banjofishes. Marine; western Pacific. Body deep and compressed; operculum spineless; dorsal fin with 10 spines; anal fin with 3 spines. Maximum length 30cm.
      • Banjos.
      • FAMILY CENTRARCHIDAE
      • Sunfishes. Freshwater; North America. Dorsal fin with 5-13 spines; anal fin with 3 spines. These fishes are nest builders. Maximum length 83cm.
      • Subfamily Centrarchinae (includes Crappies): Ambloplites, Archoplites, Centrarchus, Enneacanthus, Poxomis.
      • Subfamily Lepominae (Sunfishes and Bluegills): Lepomis.
      • Subfamily uncertain (Largemouth Basses): Acantharchus, Micropterus.
      • FAMILY PERCIDAE
      • Perches. Freshwater; Northern Hemisphere. Two dorsal fins, the first has 1-2 anal fin spines. Maximum size 90cm.
      • Eocene to present (Mioplosus from the Green River formation).
      • Subfamily Percinae (Perch) anal spines large; well-developed swim bladder: Perca, Gymnocephalus, Percarina.
      • Subfamily Luciopercinae (includes Walleye and Pikeperch) anal fin spines weak: Sander (Stizostedion), Zingel, Romanichthys.
      • Subfamily Etheostomatinae (Darters) anal fin spines well-developed, swim bladder reduced, small, usually not over 11cm: Ammocrypta, Crystallaria, Etheostoma, Percina.
      • FAMILY PRIACANTHIDAE
      • Bigeyes or Catalufas. Marine; tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Eyes very large; mouth large; dorsal fin with 10 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; scales modifies cycloid with spines; usually bright red. Nocturnal. Maximum length 65cm.
      • Cookeolus, Heteropriacanthus, Priacanthus, Pristigenys.
      • FAMILY APOGONIDAE
      • Cardinalfishes. Mostly marine; tropical Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Two dorsal fins, widely separated, the first with 6-8 spines, the second with 1 spine; anal fin with 2 spines. Maximum length 20cm.
      • Subfamily Apogoninae: mouth brooders: Apogon, Apogonichthys, Archamia, Astrapogon, Cercamia, Cheilodipterus, Coranthus, Foa, Fowleria, Glossamia, Neamia, Phaeoptyx, Rhabdamia, Siphamia, Vincentia.
      • Subfamily Pseudaminae: large canine teeth on dentary and premaxilla: Gymnapogon, Paxton, Pseudamia, Pseudamiops.
      • FAMILY EPIGONIDAE
      • Deepwater Cardinalfishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Rostral cartilage enlarged; soft dorsal and anal fins scaly.
      • Brinkmannella, Epigonus, Florenciella, Microichthys, Rosenblattia, and Sphyraenops.
      • FAMILY SILLAGINIDAE
      • Sillagos, Whitings, and Smelt-Whitings. Marine; coastal and brackish water; Indian and western Pacific oceans. Body long with a small mouth; two dorsal fins, the first with 10-13 spines and the second with one; anal fin with 2 spines; swim bladder absent. Maximum length 45cm.
      • Sillaginodes, Sillaginopsis, Sillago.
      • FAMILY MALACANTHIDAE
      • Tilefishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin long and continuous; anal fin long with 1-2 spines; one opercular spine.
      • Subfamily Malacanthinae (Sand Tilefishes): large spine at angle of the operculum, 1-10 dorsal spines: Malacanthus, Hoplolatilus.
      • Subfamily Latilinae (Branchiosteginae) (Tilefishes head rounded; dorsal fin with 6-10 spines: Caulolatilus, Lopholatilus, Branchiostegus.
      • FAMILY LACTARIIDAE
      • False Trevallies. Marine; Indian and western Pacific oceans. Dorsal fins separate, soft rays covered with scales; jaws with 2 canine teeth each.
      • Lactarius.
      • FAMILY DINOLESTIDAE
      • Long-finned Pikes. Marine; southern Australia. Lower jaw protruding; vomer and palatines with teeth, some jaw teeth canines; head scaly; first dorsal fin with 4-5 spines, second dorsal with one spine; anal fin with 1 spine. Maximum length 80cm.
      • Dinolestes.
      • FAMILY SCOMBROPIDAE
      • Gnomefishes. Marine; Indian, western Pacific, and western Atlantic oceans. Two high dorsal fins, the first of which with 7-10 spines.
      • Scombrops.
      • FAMILY POMATOMIDAE
      • Bluefishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Two dorsal fins, the first has 7-8 spines, the second with 1 spine; anal fin with 2-3 spines and scaly; prominent jaw teeth. Maximum length 1.1m.
      • Pomatomus.
      • FAMILY NEMATISTIIDAE
      • Roosterfishes. Marine; tropical eastern Pacific ocean. Body compressed; first dorsal fin with 7 long spines, the second with 1 spine; anal fin with 3 spines. Air bladder in contact with inner ear.
      • Nematistius.
      • FAMILY CORYPHAENIDAE
      • Dolphinfishes (also called Mahimahi, Pompano, and Spanish Dorado). Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Dorsal fin runs from head nearly to caudal fin; both dorsal and anal without spines; caudal fin with deep fork. Maximum length 1.5m.
      • Coryphaena.
      • FAMILY RACHYCENTRIDAE
      • Cobias. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Long body with a flattened head; 6-9 separate spines in front of the dorsal fin, which has 1-3 attached spines; long anal fin with 2-3 spines. Maximum length 1.5m.
      • Rachycentron.
      • FAMILY ECHENEIDAE (ECHENEIDIDAE)
      • Remoras or Sharksuckers. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Body long with flattened head; lower jaw projecting past upper; cycloid scales; dorsal and anal fins spineless, but a sucker disc derived from a spiny first dorsal fin on the head; no swim bladde. This fish catches rides on other fishes (sharks, etc.), turtles, and marine mammals, some show some specificity as to host. Maximum length 1m.
      • Lower Oligocene to present
      • Echeneis, Phtheirichthys, Remora, Remorina.
      • FAMILY CARANGIDAE
      • Jacks and Pompano (also called Amberjacks, Moonfishes, Pilotfish, Scads, Trevallies). Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Body usually compressed; small cycloid scales; finlets sometimes behind dorsal and anal fins; 2 dorsals, the first of which has 4-8 spines, the second one has 3 (the first two are usually detached); caudal fin forked.
      • Subfamily Trachinotinae: Lichia, Trachinotus.
      • Subfamily Scomberoidinae: Oligoplites, Parona, Scomberoides.
      • Subfamily Naucratinae: Campogramma, Elegatis, Naucrates, Seriola, Seriolina.
      • Subfamily Caranginae scutes present: Alectis, Atropus, Carangoides, Caranax, Chloroscombrus, Decapterus, Gnathanodon, Hemicaranax, Megalaspis, Parastromateus, Pseudocaranax, Selar, Selene, Trachurus, Uraspis.
      • FAMILY MENIDAE
      • Moonfishes. Marine; Indian, and western Pacific oceans. Body compressed and round; mouth very protrusible.
      • Mene.
      • FAMILY LEIOGNATHIDAE
      • Ponyfishes, Slimys, or Slipmouths. Marine and brackish water; Indian and western Pacific oceans. Body compressed and slimy with small scales and a naked head with a small mouth that is protrusible; no palatine teeth; dorsal fin with 8-9 spines; the anal fin has 3 spines. Bothe dorsal and anal fin can fold into a scaly sheath. The have a light organ that uses bacterial luminescence.
      • Gazza, Leiognathus, Secutor.
      • FAMILY BRAMIDAE
      • Pomfrets. Marine; oceanic in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Single dorsal fin with some spines at the anterior end; no anal fin spines. Maximum length 85cm.
      • Subfamily Braminae: dorsal and anal fins with scales, pectoral fins thoracic: Brama, Eumegistus, Taractes, Taractichthys, Xenobrama, Paucaichthys+ from Oligocene of Romania.
      • Subfamily Pteraclinae: dorsal and anal fins high and scaleless; depressible, pelvic fins under the head: Pteraclis, Pterycombus.
      • FAMILY CARISTIIDAE
      • Manefishes. Deep-bodied with long, high dorsal fin that begins on the head; no anal fin spines; long pelvic fins with one spine. These fish feed on siphonophores.
      • Caristius, Platyberyx.
      • FAMILY EMMELICHTHYIDAE
      • Rovers. Marine; mainly warm waters of the Indian, western Pacific, southern Pacific, eastern Atlantic, and Caribbean. No teeth in the jaws; dorsal fin divided or not with 11-14 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; caudal fin forked. Maximum length 50cm.
      • Plagiogeneion, Emmelichthys, Erythrocles.
      • FAMILY LUTJANIDAE
      • Snappers. Mostly marine; tropical to subtropical; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin continuous with 9-11 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; most with canine teeth on the jaws; small teeth on palatines and vomer. Maximum length 1m.
      • Subfamily Etelinae: Aphareus, Aprion, Etelis, Pristipomoides, Randallichthys.
      • Subfamily Apsilinae: Apsilus, Lipocheilus, Paracaesio, Parapristipomoides.
      • Subfamily Paraichthyinae: Symphorichthys, Symphorus.
      • Subfamily Lutjaninae: Hoplopagrus, Lutjanus, Macolor, Ocyurus, Pinjalo, Rhomboplites.
      • FAMILY CAESIONIDAE
      • Fusiliers. Marine; Indian, and western Pacific oceans. One dorsal fin with 10-15 spines; anal fin with three spines; mouth upturned and protrusible, small teeth in the jaws; caudal fin with deep fork. These are planktivores. Up to 60cm.
      • Caesio, Dipterygonotus, Gymnocaesio, Pterocaesio.
      • FAMILY LOBOTIDAE
      • Tripletails. Marine, brackish water, and freshwater; warm waters. Palate toothless; rounded terminal parts of anal, and dorsal fins resemble the rounded caudal fin, thus triple tails, dorsal fin with 12 spines.
      • Dantinoides, Lobotes.
      • FAMILY GERREIDAE
      • Mojarras. Marine; warm seas. Mouth protrusible; head scaly; dorsal and anal fins with scaly sheath; dorsal fin with 9-10 spines; 3 (up to 5-6) anal fin spines. Maximum length 41cm.
      • Diapterus, Eucinostomus, Eugerres, Gerres, Parequula, Pentaprion, Ulaema, Xystaema.
      • FAMILY HAEMULIDAE (POMADASYIDAE)
      • Grunts. Mainly marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Dorsal fin with 9-14 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; small mouth; no vomerine teeth.
      • Subfamily: Haemulinae: Anisotremus, Conodon, Haemulon, Microlepidotus, Orthopristis, Pomadasys, Xenichthys, Xenistius.
      • Subfamily Plectorhynchinae: Diagramma, Parapristipoma, Plectorhynchus.
      • FAMILY INERMIIDAE
      • Bonnetmouths. Dorsal fins with a deep notch, the first fin with 10-17 spines, the second fin with 2 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; no teeth on the jaws or palate; caudal fin forked. Planktivores with protrusible mouth.
      • Emmelichthyops, Inermia.
      • FAMILY NEMIPTERIDAE
      • Threadfin Breams. Marine; warm seas; Indian and western Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin continuous (10 spines); anal fin with 3 spines; caudal fin with thread-like filament projecting from upper lobe.
      • Nemipterus, Parascolopsis, Pentapodus, Scaevius, Scolopsis.
      • FAMILY LETHRINIDAE
      • Emperor Breams. Marine of tropical coastal waters in west Africa, and Indian and wester Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin continuous with 10 spines; anal fin with 3 spines.
      • Gnathodentex, Gymnocranius, Lethrinus, Monotaxis, Wattsia.
      • FAMILY SPARINIDAE
      • Porgies (including Sheepshead). Mostly marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin continuous woth 10-13 spines; anal fin with 3 spines.
      • Arcosargus, Boops, Calamus, Chrysophrys, Dentex, Diplodus, Lagodon, Pagellus, Pagrus, Pimelepterus, Rhabdosargus, Sparus, Stenotomus.
      • FAMILY CENTRACANTHIDAE (MAENIDAE)
      • Picarel Porgies. Marine; eastern Atlantic and coast of South Africa. Drsal fin continuous with 11-13 spines; anal fin 3 spines. These are planktivores with protrusible mouths. Maximum length 38cm.
      • Centracanthus, Spicara.
      • FAMILY POLYNEMIDAE
      • Threadfins. Marine, brackish water, and freshwater; tropical and subtropical seas. Pectoral fin with lower rays unattached; 2 dorsal fins; pelvic fin with one spine.
      • Eleutheronema, Filimnaus, Galeoides, Leptomelanosoma, Parapolynemus, Pentanemus, Polydactylus, Polynemus.
      • FAMILY SCIAENIDAE
      • Dreum (Croakers). Marine, brackish water, and freshwater; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific. Most freshwater species in South America. Dorsal fin with deep notch, first dorsal with 6-13 spine, second dorsal with 1-2 spines; palate without teeth; some with barbels. Common names come form the sound that they make with the swim bladder.
      • Aplodinotus, Atractoscion, Atrobucca, Bairdiella, Cheilotrema, Cynoscion, Equetus, Genyonemus, Johnius, Larimus, Leiostomus, Menticirrhus, Micropogon, Micropogonias, Ophioscion, Otolithes, Otolithoides, Paranebris, Pogonias, Protosciaena, Roncador, Sciaena, Sciaeniops, Seriphus, Stellifer, Umbrina.
      • FAMILY MULLIDAE
      • Goatfishes. Mostly marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific. Two long barbels on the chin; body long with two dorsal fins, the first with 6-8 spines; the second with 1 spine; anal fin with 1-2 spines; caudal fin forked. Some brightly colored. Maximum length 60cm.
      • Mulloidichthys, Mullus, Parupeneus, Pseudupeneus, Upeneichthys, Upeneus.
      • FAMILY PEMPHERIDAE
      • Sweepers. Marine and brackish water; western Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Body compressed and deep; eye large; dorsal fin short with 4-7 spines; anal fin with 2-3 spines. Some with luminescent organ. Maximum length 30cm.
      • Parapriacanthus, Pempheris.
      • FAMILY GLAUCOSTOMATIDAE
      • Pearl Perches. Marine; eastern Indian and western Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin with 8 spines; anal fin with 3 spines. Maximum length 1.2m.
      • Glaucosoma.
      • FAMILY LEPTOBRAMIDAE
      • Beachsalmon. Marine, brackish water, and freshwater; coastal waters of New Guinea, Queensland, and western Australia. Body compressed and deep; eye small; one short dorsal fin with 4 spines; anal fin with 3 spines. Maximum length 35cm.
      • Leptobrama.
      • FAMILY BATHYCLUPEIDAE
      • Bathyclupeids. Marine; open ocean; Indian, wastern Pacific, and Gulf of Mexico. One dorsal fin without spines; anal fin long with 1 spine; both anal and dorsal fins with scales.
      • Bathyclupea.
      • FAMILY MONODACTYLIDAE
      • Moonfishes or Fingerfishes. Marine and brackish water; western Africa, Indian, and western Pacific oceans.
      • FAMILY TOXOTIDAE
      • Archerfishes. Marine; coastal waters of Indai across to the Philippines, Australia, and Polynesia. Body deep and compressed; eye large; a dorsal fin with 4-6 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; mouth large, protractile, and terminal with protruding lower jaw. Can eject water to knock insects into the water.
      • Toxotes.
      • FAMILY ARRIPIDAE
      • Australasian Salmon or Kahawai. Marine; southern Pacific (Australia to New Zealand). Dorsal fin with 9 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; caudal fin forked.
      • Arripis.
      • FAMILY DICHISTIIDAE (CORACINIDAE)
      • Galjoen Fishes. Marine coastal and brackish water of South Africa and Madagascar. Deep bodies fishes with small mouths; dorsal fin with 10 spines; anal fins with 3 spines.
      • Dichistius.
      • FAMILY KYPHOSIDAE
      • Sea Chubs. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans; anal fin with 3 spines; dorsal fin with 9-16 spines. Mainly algivores.
      • Subfamily Girellinae (Nibblers): Girella, Graus.
      • Subfamily Kyphosinae (Rudderfishes): Hermosilla, Kyphosus, Neoscorpis, Sectator.
      • Subfamily Scorpidinae (Halfmoons): Bathystethus, Labracoglossa, Medialuna, Scorpis.
      • Subfamily Microcanthinae: Atypichthys, Microcanthus, Neatypus, Tilodon, Vinculum.
      • Subfamily Parascorpidinae: Parascorpis.
      • FAMILY DREPANIIDAE
      • Sicklefishes. Marine; Indian, western Pacific Oceans and coastal waters of western Africa. Dorsal fin with 13-14 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; mouth protractile; pectoral fins long.
      • Drepane.
      • FAMILY CHAETODONTIDAE
      • Butterflyfishes. Marine; Indian and western Pacific oceans. Body compressed; no spine at operculum; dorsal fin continuous (6-16 spines); anal fin with 3-5 spines; scales onto dorsal and anal fins; mouth small; terminal and protractile; gut coiled many times. Most species are brightly colored.
      • Chaetodon, Chelmon, Choradion, Forcipiger, Hemitaurichthys, Heniochus, Johnrandallia, Prognathodes.
      • FAMILY POMACANTHIDAE
      • Angelfishes. Marine; tropical Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Body depressed; spine at angle of preoperculum; spiny scales; dorsal fin continuous with 9-15 spines; anal fin with 3 spines, both dorsal and anal fins with elongate extension on trailing margin. Generally on coral reefs.
      • Apolemichthys, Centropyge, Chaetodontoplus, Genicanthus, Holacanthus, Paracentropyge, Pomacanthus, Pygoplites.
      • FAMILY ENOPLOSIDAE
      • Oldwives. Marine; southern Australia. Pelvic fins large and with a spine; both dorsal fins have spines; anal fin has 3 spines.
      • Enoplosus.
      • FAMILY PENTACEROTIDAE
      • Armorheds. Marine; Indian and western Pacific and southwestern Atlantic oceans. Body compressed; head encased in rough bone; single dorsal fin with 4-15 spines; anal fin with 2-5 spines; pelvic fin large with 1 spine.
      • Subfamily Histiopterinae: spinous dorsal fin shorter than soft dorsal; vomer toothless: Histiopterus, Zanclistius.
      • Subfamily Paristiopterinae: spinous dorsal fin longer than soft fin, vomer toothless: Paristiopterus, Pentaceropsis.
      • Subfamily Pentacerotinae: spinous fin much longer than soft dorsal, vomer with teeth: Pentaceros, Pseudopentaceros.
      • FAMILY NANDIDAE
      • Asian Leaffishes. Freshwater; southern Asia. Head large and mouth large and protrusible; dorsal fin continuous. Maximum length 21cm.
      • Subfamily Nandinae: anal fin with 3 spines: Nandus.
      • Subfamily Badinae: Mouth small and slightly protrusible; dorsal fin with 6-7 spines; anal fin with 3 spines: Badis, Dario.
      • Subfamily Pristolepidinae: Mouth small and slightly protrusible; dorsal fin with 13-16 spines; anal fin with 3 spines: Pristolepis.
      • FAMILY POLYCENTRIDAE
      • Afro-American Leaffishes. Freshwater; tropical western Africa and northeastern South America. Anal fin with variable number of spines (4-13). Parental care given to eggs and young.
      • Afronandus, Polycentropsis, Monocirrhus, Polycentrus.
      • FAMILY TERAPONTIDAE (TERAPONIDAE, THERAPONIDAE)
      • Grunters or Tigerperches. Marine coastal, brachish, and freshwater in Indian and western Pacific Ocean area (Africa to Japan, Fiji, and Samoa). Body oblong and compressed; operculum with 2 spines; dorsal fin with notch, 11-14 spines which can be folded into a sheath of scales; anal fin with 3 scales; pelvic fins with 1 spine; both vomer and palatines without teeth. Swim bladder used for making sound.
      • Amniataba, Bidyanus, Hephaestus, Leiopotherapon, Mesopristes, Pelates, Pingalla, Scortum, Syncomistes, Terapon, Variichthys.
      • FAMILY KUHLIIDAE
      • Flagtails. Marine, brackish, and freshwater; Indian and western Pacific oceans. Dorsal and anal fins with scaly sheathes; dorsal fin continuous but notched with 10 spines; anal fin with 3 spines. Length up to 50 cm.
      • Kuhlia.
      • FAMILY OPLEGNATHIDAE
      • Knifejaws. Marine; Indian and western Pacific oceans (Africa to Indonesia, Australia, Polynesia, to Galapagos). Teeth fused to form a beak which can nip and crush barnacles and sea urchins; spinous dorsal low and with 11-12 spines; anal fin with 3 spines. Maximum length 0.9m.
      • Oplegnathus.
      • FAMILY CIRRHITIDAE
      • Hawkfishes. Marine; tropical Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin continuous with 10 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; scales cycloid or ctenoid; no swim bladder. Maximum length 55cm.
      • FAMILY CHIRONEMIDAE
      • Kelpfishes. Marine; coastal Australia and New Zealand. Dorsal fin with 14-16 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; vomer with teeth, but palatines toothless. Maximum length 40cm.
      • Chironemus, Threpterius.
      • FAMILY APLODACTYLIDAE (HAPLODACTYLIDAE)
      • Marblefishes. Coastal marine; southern Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and Peru. Dorsal fin with 14-23 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; vomer with teeth.
      • Aplodactylus.
      • FAMILY CHEILODACTYLIDAE
      • Morwongs. Marine; Southern Hemisphere. Dorsal fin continuous with 14-22 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; vomer and palatine toothless; lower 4-7 pectoral rays free. Maximum length 1m.
      • Acantholatris, Cheilodactylus, Chirodactylus, Nemadactylus, Sciaenoides.
      • FAMILY LATRIDAE
      • Trumpeters. Marine; coastal southern Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and south Atlantic. Dorsal fin with 14-24 spines; 3 usually small anal spines.
      • Latridopsis, Latris, Mendosoma.
      • FAMILY CEPOLIDAE
      • Bandfishes. Marine; eastern Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin continuous with 0-4 spines; anal fin with 0-2 spines; vomer and palatine toothless; body generally red. Maximum length 70cm.
      • Subfamily Cepolinae: highly compressed eel-like body that gradually tapers to the tail; dorsal and anal fins long and continuous with the caudal fin: Acanthocepola, Cepola.
      • Subfamily Owstoniinae: Long caudal, dorsal, and anal fins, all free; deepwater: Owstonia, Pseudocepola.
    • SUBORDER ELASSOMATOIDEI
      • FAMILY ELASSOMATIDAE
      • Pygmy Sunfishes. Freshwater; eastern US. Fish resemble Centrarchids, but seem more allied with the Cichlids. Rounded caudal fin; dorsal fin continuous with 2-5 spines; anal fin with 3 spines. Maximum length 4.5cm.
      • Elassoma.
    • SUBORDER LABROIDEI
    • These fishes have specialized pharyngeal jaws specialized for processing food.
      • FAMILY CICHLIDAE
      • Cichlids. Freshwater; Central and South America (one just into Texas), West Indies, Africa, Madagascar, Israel Syria, India, and Sri Lanka. Dorsal fin continuous with 7-25 spines; anal fin with 3-15 spines; most have a moderately deep and compressed body. They care for their young as mouthbrooders and substratebrooders. Africa has more than 900 species. Maximum length 80cm.
      • Paratilapia, Ptychochromis, Acaronia, Aequidens, Amphilophus, Apistogramma, Astronotus, Cichla, Cichlasoma, Crenicichla, Geophagus, Gymnogeophagus, Herichthys, Heros, Parachromis, Pterophyllum, Retroculus, Symphysodon, Theraps, Thorichthys, Uaru, Alcolapia, Chromidotilapia, Haplochromis, Hemichromis, Heterochromis, Julidochromis, Lamprologus, Oreochromis, Pelmatochromis, Pelvicachromis, Pseudocrenilabrus, Pseudotropheus, Sarotherodon, Teleogramma, Tilapia, Trematocara, Tylochromis, Tristramella, Iranocichla.
      • FAMILY EMBIOTOCIDAE
      • Surfperches. Coastal marine; northern Pacific Ocean. Dorsal fin continuous with 6-11 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; cycloid scales; caudal fin forked. Viviparous. Maximum length 45cm.
      • Amphistichus, Brachyistius, Cymatogaster, Ditrema, Embiotoca, Hyperprosopon, Hypsurus, HysterocarpusMicrometrus, Neoditrema, Phanerodon, Rhacochilus, Zalembius.
      • FAMILY POMACENTRIDAE
      • Damselfishes. Marine; all tropical seas. Body high and compressed; small mouth; anal fin with 2 spines; toothless palate; single dorsal fin with 8-17? spines. Maximum length 35 cm. Males care for the eggs.
      • Subfamily Amphiprioninae (Anemonefishes) fishes of corals, commensals with anemones, dorsal fin with 10 spines: Amphiprion.
      • Subfamily Chrominae: caudal peduncle with procurrent spiny rays, commensal relationship with corals in some: Acanthochromis, Altrichthys, Azurina, Chromis, Dascyllus.
      • Subfamily Lepidozyginae: body elongate; no projecting spines on peduncle, planktivore: Lepidozygus.
      • Subfamily Pomacentrinae: Body orbiculate to elongate; no spiny caudal rays: Abudefduf, Amblyglyphidodon, Amblypomacentrus, Cheiloprion, Chrysiptera, Dischistodus, Hemiglyphidodon, Hypsypops, Mecaenichthys, Microspathodon, Neoglyphidodon, Neopomacentrus, Nexilosus, Parma, Plectroglyphidodon, Pomacentrus, Pomachromis, Pristotis, Similiparma, Stegastes, Teixeirichthys.
      • FAMILY LABRIDAE
      • Wrasses. Marine, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Protractile mouth with jaw teeth usually angled outward; dorsal fin with 8-21 spines; anal fin with 2-6 spines; scales cycloid. Most bury themselves at night in samd. Some clean other fish of parasites. Maximum length 2.3m, but most are less than 15 cm. Very large family, second largest marine family.
      • Acantholabrus, Anampses, Bodianus, Cheilinus, Cheilio, Choerodon, Cirrhilabrus, Clepticus, Coris, Ctenolabrus, Cymolutes, Decodon, Doratonotus, Epibulus, Gomphosus, Halichoeres, Hemipteronotus, Hologymnosus, Julichthys, Labroides, Labrus, Lachnolaimus, Macropharyngodon, Neolabrus, Oxyjulis, Paracheilinus, Pseudodax, Pseudojulis, Pteragogus, Semicossyphus, Stethojulis, Tautoga, Tautogolabrus, Thalassoma, Xyrichthys.
      • FAMILY ODACIDAE
      • Cales. Coastal temperate marine; Australia and New Zealand. Mouth not protractile; jaw teeth fused to make a parrot-lile beak; dorsal fin with 14-27 spines; pelvic fin with 1 spine; cycloid scales. Maximum length 40cm.
      • Haletta, Neodax, Odax, Siphonognathus.
      • FAMILY SCARIDAE (CALLYODONTIDAE)
      • Parrotfishes. Marine; tropical; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Nonprotractile mouth; jaw teeth fused into a parrot-like beak; dorsal fin with 9 spines; anal fin with 3 spines; pelvic fin with 1 spine; large cycloid scales. They feed on algae and dead coral. Very colorful.
      • Bolbometaphon, Calotomus, Cetoscarus, Chlorurus, Cryptotomus, Hipposcarus, Leptoscarus, Nicholsina, Scarus, Sparisoma.
    • SUBORDER ZOARCOIDEI
    • The monophyly of this taxon and all of its families is uncertain. They are all marine.
      • FAMILY BATHYMASTERIDAE
      • Dorsal and anal fins long and spineless; pectoral fin large; palate with teeth. Maximum length 38cm.
      • Bathymaster, Rathunella, Ronquilus.
      • FAMILY ZOARCIDAE
      • Eelpouts. Marine; benthis; Arctic to Antarctic. Body long and eel-like; dorsal and anal fin continuous with the caudal fin; no spines; pelvic fins reduced or absent and in front of the pectorals. A few species are ovoviparous; most are oviparous and some show parental care. Maximum length 1.1m.
      • Aprodon, Bothrocara, Crossostomus, Davidjordania, Derepodichthys, Dieidolychus, Gymnelopsis, Gymnelus, Hadropareia, Iluocoetes, Lycenchelys, Lycodapus, Lycodes, Lycodonus, Lycodopsis, Lycozoarces, Macrozoarces, Maynea, Melanostigma, Oidiphorus, Ophthalmolycus, Pachycara, Phucocoetes, Rhigophilia, Zoarces.
      • FAMILY STICHAEIDAE
      • Pricklebacks. Marine; northern Pacific, and northern Atlantic. Dorsal fin long and entirely spinous in most species (22-127 spines); anal fin with 1-5 spines; pelvic fin reduced wit 1 spine or absent. Perhaps 6 subfamilies, but their monophyly is in dispute.
      • Acantholumpenus, Alectrias, Alectridium, Anisarchus, Anoplarchus, Askoldia, Azygopterus, Bryozoichthys, Cebidichthys, Chirolophis, Dictyosoma, Ernogrammus, Esselenia, Eulophias, Eumesogrammus, Gymnoclinus, Kasatkia, Leptoclinus, Leptostichaeus, Lumpenella, Lumpenopsis, Lumpenus, Neolumpenus, Neozoarces, Opisthocentrus, Pholidapus, Phytichthys, Plagiogrammus, Plectobranchus, Poroclinus, Pseudalectrias, Soldatovia, Stichaeopsis, Stichaeus, Ulvaria, Xiphister, Zoarchias.
      • FAMILY CRYPTACANTHODIDAE
      • Wrymouths. Marine; northwestern Atlantic and northern Pacific oceans. No pelvic fins; mouth oblique; dorsal and anal fins to caudal fin or continuous with it; dorsal fin with 60-80 spines and anal fin with 0-3 spines.
      • Cryptacanthodes.
      • FAMILY PHOLIDAE
      • Gunnels. Marine; northern Atlantic and northern Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin long with 75-100 spines; anal fin half the length of the dorsal; pectoral fins and pelvic fins reduced or absent (when present pelvics have 1 spine). Frequent rocks and pools at low tide.
      • Subfamily Pholinae: pigmented patterns: Pholis.
      • Subfamily Apodichthyinae: body coloration uniform: Apodichthys, Rhodymenichthys.
      • FAMILY ANARHICHADIDAE
      • Wolffishes. Marine; northern Atlantic and northern Pacific oceans. Body naked or with tiny scales; dorsal fin with only spines; no pelvic fins; large pectoral fins; caudal fin small or pointed; mouth with anterior canines and sides with molariform teeth. Maximum length 2.5m.
      • Anarhichas, Anarrhichthys.
      • FAMILY PTILICHTHYIDAE
      • Quillfishes. Marine; Pacific North America. Body very long; no caudal fin; no pelvic fins; no scales; dorsal fin with 90 separate spines followed by a long soft fin; anal fin long with no spines. Maximum length 33cm.
      • Ptilichthys.
      • FAMILY ZAPORIDAE
      • Prowfishes. Marine; northern Pacific. No pelvic fins; small cycloid scales; dorsal fin with 54-57 spines; short anal fin with 3 weak spines. Maximum length 88cm.
      • Zaprora.
      • FAMILY SCYTALINIDAE
      • Graveldivers. Pacific coast of North America. Fishe eel-like; no pelvic fins; dorsal, anal, and caudal fins continuous and spineless. Maximum length 15cm.
      • Scytalina.
    • SUBORDER NOTOTHENIOIDEI
    • Felvic fin located beneath the head and with a spine; dorsal fins with spines; usually no palatine teeth; usually vomers without teeth; no swim bladder. Antarctic distribution.
      • FAMILY BOVICHTIDAE (BOVICHTHYIDAE)
      • Temperate Icefishes. Marine; southern Australia, New Zealand, southern South America. Teeth on palatines and vomer; mouth protractile; spinous and soft dorsal fins.
      • Bovichtus, Cottoperca, Halaphritis.
      • FAMILY PSEUDAPHRITIDAE
      • Catadromous Icefishes. Freshwater, brackish water, and marine; southeastern Australia. Occurs mainly in freshwater coastal areas and spawns in estuaries. Formerly in the Bivichtidae.
      • Pseudaphritis.
      • FAMILY ELEGINOPIDAE
      • Patagonian Blennies. Marine coastal waters of Chile, Argentina, to Tierra del Fuego. Dorsal fin with 7-8 spines.
      • Eleginops.
      • FAMILY NOTOTHENIIDAE
      • Cod Icefishes. Marine; coastal Antarctica and Southern Hemisphere. Body with scales; mouth protractile; spinous first dorsal fin (3-11 spines). Most are benthis, but one common species (Pleurogramma antarcticum) is planktivorous and pelagic.
      • Aethotaxis, Cryothenia, Dissostichus, Gobionotothen, Gvozdarus, Lepidonothern, Notothenia, Pagothenia, Paranotothenia, Patagonotothen, Pleurogramma, Trematomus.
      • FAMILY HARPAGIFERIDAE
      • Spiny Plunderfishes. Marine; littoral; from Antarctic coast northward to southern South America. No scales; first dorsal fin with 1-7 spines; mouth protractile; chin barbel; operculum with hook-like spine.
      • Harpagifer.
      • FAMILY ARTEDIDRACONIDAE
      • Barbled Plunderfishes. Marine; deepwater; Antarctic. No scales; first dorsal spinous with 1-7 spines; operculum with hook-like spine; mouth protractile; chin barbel.
      • Artedidraco, Dolliodraco, Hiistiodraco, Pogonophryne.
      • FAMILY BATHYDRACONIDAE
      • Antarctic Dragonfishes. Marine; Antarctic. Mouth not protractile; no spinous dorsal fin.
      • Acanthodraco, Akarotaxis, Bathydraco, Cygnodraco, Gerlachea, Gymnodraco, Parachaenichthys, Prionodraco, Psilodraco, Racovitzia, Vomeridens.
      • FAMILY CHANNICHTHYIDAE (CHAENICHTHYIDAE)
      • Crocodile Icefishes. Head flattened with pronounced flattened snout; first dorsal spinous; pelvics present and long or broad. Fishes have no red blood cells and no myoglobin; oxygen absorption through the skin.
      • Chaenocephalus, Chaenodraco, Champsocephalus, Channichthys, Chionobathyscus, Chionodraco, Cryodraco, Dacodraco, Neopagetopsis, Pagetopsis, Pseudochaenichthys.
    • SUBORDER TRACHINOIDEI
    • The monophyly of this suborder is questionalble.
      • FAMILY CHIASMODONTIDAE
      • Swallowers. Marine; oceanic. First dorsal spinous; highly distendible stomach and mouth.
      • Chiasmodon, Dysalotus, Kali, Pseudoscopelus.
      • FAMILY CHAMPSODONTIDAE
      • Gapers. Marine; Indian and western Pacific oceans. Pelvic fins long and beneath the head; pectorals small; first dorsal fin spinous (5 spines); anal fin with 1 spine.
      • Eocene to the present.
      • Champsodon, Eochampsodon+ (Eocene of Caucasus)
      • FAMILY TRICHODONTIDAE
      • Sandfishes. Marine; northern Pacific Ocean. Mouth pointed upward with fringed “lips”; operculum with 5 spines; no scales on body; first dorsal fin with 8-16 spines, the second dorsal with 0-1 spines; the anal fin with 0-1 spines. The fish lie buried in the bottom. Maximum length 30cm.
      • Arctoscopus, Trichodon.
      • FAMILY PINGUIPEDIDAE
      • Sandperches. Pelvic fin with 1 spine; mouth protractile; dorsal fin continuous with 4-7 spines; anal fin without spines.
      • Kochichthys, Parapercis, Pinguipes, Prolatius, Pseudopercis.
      • FAMILY CHEIMARRHICHTHYIDAE
      • New Zealand Torrentfishes. Rivers of New Zealand. Pelvic fins under head; mouth not protractile and inferior; dorsal fin preceded by 3-4 isolated spines (4-5 spines overall); anal fin with 1-2 spines. Maximum length 15cm.
      • Cheimarrichthys.
      • FAMILY TRICHONOTIDAE
      • Sanddivers. Marine; Indian and western Pacific oceans. Eye with iris flap that extends over the lens; lower jaw projecting; dorsal fin not spinous; pelvic fin with 1 spine.
      • Trichonotus.
      • FAMILY CREEDIIDAE
      • Sandburrowers. Marine; Indian and western Pacific (over as far as Easter Island). Cirri along lower jaw; with fleshy snout; lower jaw projects beyond upper; dorsal and anal fins not spinous; dorsal is continuous; pelvic fin with 1 spine; eyes protruding. Maximum length 8cm.
      • Apodocreedia, Chalixodytes, Creedia, Crystallodytes, Limnichthys, Schizochirus, Tewara.
      • FAMILY PERCOPHIDAE
      • Duckbills. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, western Pacific and southeastern Pacific oceans. Head flattened; eyes large; spinous dorsal sometimes present and then separated from soft dorsal; anal with 0-1 spines; pelvic fin with 1 spine.
      • Subfamily Percophinae: first dorsal fin with 8-9 spines; anal fin with 1 spine: Percophis.
      • Subfamily Bembropinae: First dorsal with 6 spines: Bembrops, Chironema.
      • Subfamily Hemerocoetinae: Firsr dorsal fin (if present) with 2-6 spines: Dactylopsaron, Enigmapercis, Matsubaraea, Squamicreedia, Acanthaphritis, Osopsaron, Pteropsaron.
      • FAMILY LEPTOSCOPIDAE
      • Southern Sandfishes. Marine; Australia and New Zealand. Mouth oblique with fringed “lips” and dorsal eyes; body with scales; dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins not spinous.
      • Crapatulus, Leptoscopus, Lesueurina.
      • FAMILY AMMODYTIDAE
      • Body long with long dorsal and anal (about half the length of the dorsal) fins; neither one spinous; lower jaw projecting; scales tiny and cycloid; pelvic fin usually absent (if present, with 1 spine).
      • Ammodytes, Ammodytoides, Bleekeria, Embolichthys, Gymnammodytes, Hyperoplus, Lepidammodytes, Protammodytes.
      • FAMILY TRACHINIDAE
      • Weeverfishes. Marine; eastern Atlantic to Mediterranian and Black Sea. Long body; spinous dorsal with 5-7 spines followed by long soft dorsal; anal long with two spines; pelvic fins beneath head; spine on operculum that has a poison gland.
      • Echiichthys, Trachinus.
      • FAMILY URANOSCOPIDAE
      • Stargazers. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Large head; mouth oblique sometimes with a lure; lips fringed and eyes dorsal; pelvic fins beneath the head, close together, and with one spine; dorsal and anal fins long, spinous dorsal may or may not be present; two double-grooved spines with poison glands are behind the operculum and above the pectoral fin.
      • Astroscopus, Genyagnus, Ichthyscopus, Kathetostoma, Pleuroscopus, Selenoscopus, Uranoscopus, Xenocephalus.
    • SUBORDER PHOLIDICHTHYOIDEI
      • FAMILY PHOLIDICHTHYIDAE
      • Convict Blenny. Marine; southwestern Philippines to the Solomon Islands. Eel-shaped without scales; pelvics (with 1 spine) just beneath pectorals; dorsal, caudal and anal fins continuous, all without spines.
      • Pholidichthys.
    • SUBORDER BLENNIOIDEI
    • Pelvic fin with spine and 2 soft rays, inserted in front of the pectoral fin, and the pelvis forms a nut-like pod that opens ventrally; anal fin with 0-2 spines (never 3 or more).
      • FAMILY TRIPTERYGIIDAE
      • Triplefin Blennies. Marine; usually tropical; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Dorsal din divided into three fins, the first two spinous; anal fin spines 0-2; scales ctenoid. Maximum length 25cm (usually6 or less).
      • Axoclinus, Crocodilichthys, Enneanectes, Enneapterygius, Forsterygion, Helcogramma, Lepidoblennius, Notoclinus, Ruanoho, Springerichthys, Trianectes, Tripterygion.
      • FAMILY DACTYLOSCOPIDAE
      • Sand Stargazers. Marine; warm temperate to tropical in the Americas. Mouth oblique; lips fringed; upper edge of operculum fringed; eyes dorsal and stalked; pelvic fins with 1 spine and beneath the head; dorsal fin long and continuous with 7-23 spines; anal fin long and spineless; scales cycloid. Maximum length 15cm. Have a branchiostegal pump that moves water over the gills.
      • Dactylagnus, Dactyloscopus, Gillellus, Heteristius, Leurochilus, Myxodagnus, Platygillellus, Sindoscopus, Storrsia.
      • FAMILY BLENNIIDAE
      • Combtooth Blennies. Marine; rarely brackish or freshwater; tropical to subtropical; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Body scaleless; head blunt; pelvic fins usually present and under the head; palatines toothless, but vomer may have teeth; jaws with comb-like teeth and some with canines; dorsal fin with 3-17 spines; anal fin with 2 spines; no swim bladder. Maximum length 54cm, but most less than 15cm. Many mimic the appearances of other fishes.
      • Alictus, Andamia, Antennablennius, Cirripectes, Ecsenius, Entomacrodus, Istiblennius, Ophioblennius, Praealictus, Rhabdoblennius, Salarias, Scartichthys, Aidablennius, Chalaroderma, Chasmodes, Coryphoblennius, Hypleurochilus, Hypsoblennius, Lipophrys, Lupinoblennius, Parablennius, Salaria, Scartella, Enchelyurus, Haptogenys, Laiphognathus, Oman, Omobranchus, Omox, Parenchelyurus, Phenablennius, Aspidontus, Meiacanthus, Petroscirtes, Plagiotremus, Xiphasia.
      • FAMILY CLINIDAE
      • Kelp Blennies. Marine; mainly temperate; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Scales small, embedded, and cycloid; dorsal fin long with 36-84 spines; anal fin with 2 spines; some have continuous anal, caudal, and dorsal fins. Maximum length 60cm.
      • Ophiclinops, Ophiclinus, Peronedys, Sticharium, Cancelloxus, Clinoporus, Clinus, Cologrammus, Ericentrus, Gynutoclinus, Heteroclinus, Neoblennius, Pavoclinus, Springeratus, Xenopoclinus,Clinitrachus, Gibbonsia, Heterostichus, Myxodes, Ribeiroclinus.
      • FAMILY LABRISOMIDAE
      • Labrisomid Blennies. Marine; tropical; Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Scales cycloid, but not embedded; cirri often on nape, above the eyes, and nostril; dorsal fin long, most of it with spines, all sines in a few species. A few species are viviparous.
      • Alloclinus, Aucheniochus, Calliclinus, Cottoclinus, Cryptotrema, Dialommus, Exerpes, Haptoclinus, Labrisomus, Malacoctenus, Mnierpes, Nemaclinus, Paraclinus, Starksia, Xenomedea.
      • FAMILY CHAENOPSIDAE
      • Tube Blennies. Warm seasof the Americas. Body usually elongate, some eel-like; no scales; dorsal fin long with 17-28 spines, sometimes front of the fin is elevated; anal fin with 2 spines; either anal or dorsal or both can be united with the caudal fin. Maximum length 16cm.
      • Acanthemblemaria, Chaenopsis, Coralliozetus, Ekemblemaria, Emblemaria, Emblemariopsis, Hemiemblemaria, Lucayablennius, Mccoskerichthys, Neoclinus, Protemblemaria, Stathmonotus, Tanyemblemaria.
    • SUBORDER ICOSTEOIDEI (MALACICHTHYES)
    • Incertae Sedis
      • FAMILY ICOSTEIDAE
      • Ragfishes. Marine; Pacific coastal waters of North America. Body elongate and compressed; largly cartilaginous, they have no spines; but have tiny prickles on the fin rays; scales embedded or absent; pelvic fins absent in adults. Maximum length 2m.
      • Icosteus.
    • SUBORDER GOBIESOCOIDEI (XENOPTERYGII)
      • Incertae Sedis
      • FAMILY GOBIESOCIDAE
      • Clingfishes. Marine in shallow water and tidal pools; some in freshwater; Atylantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Pelvic fins modified into a ventral suction disc; long dorsal finspineless; anal fin also long (about half the length of the dorsal) and spineless; no swim bladder. One genus (Alabes)swims in open water and is eel-like with tontinuous dorsal, caudal, anal fins and lacks sucker disc.
      • Acrotops, Alabes, Aspasmogaster, Arcos, Aspasma, Chorisochismus, Cochleoceps, Conidens, Diademichthys, Diplecogaster, Gastrocyathus, Gobiesox, Haplocylix, Lepadichthys, Lepadogaster, Parvicrepis, Rimicola, Tomicodon, Trachelochismus.
    • SUBORDER CALLIONYMOIDEI
    • Head broad and flattened; scaleless; small mouth; 2 dorsal fins, the first of which has 1-4 spines; pelvic fin with 1 spine.
      • FAMILY CALLIONYMIDAE
      • Dragonets. Marine; benthic; warm seas of Indian and western Pacific (a few occur in warm seas of the Atlantic and other parts of the Pacific). The preoperculum has a spine, but the operculum is spineless; dorsal fin with 4 spines; anal fin with no spines. Maximum length 25cm. Very colorful and often display sexual dimorphism.
      • Anaora, Callionymus, Chalinops, Dactylopus, Diplogrammus, Draculo, Eleutherochir, Paracallionymus, Protogrammus, Synchiropus.
      • FAMILY DRACONETTIDAE
      • Slope Dargonets. Marine; Japan to Hawaii; Atlantic and Indian oceans. Operculum and suboperculum with a strong spine; dorsal fin with 3 spines; anal fin spineless.
      • Centrodraco, Draconetta.
    • SUBORDER GOBIOIDEI
    • Usually without swim bladder; barbels usually present; spinous dorsal fin with 1-8 spines; pelvic fins (with 1 spine) below pectoral fins.
      • FAMILY RHYACICHTHYIDAE
      • Loach Gobies. Freshwater streams; Indo-Australia, Philippines, China, to Solomon Islands. Head flattened with inferior mouth that has a fleshy upper lip; eyes small; pelvic fins widely separated; pectoral fin very broad; anal fin with 1 spine; head and paired fins make an adhesive disc.
      • Rhyacichthys.
      • FAMILY ODONTOBUTIDAE
      • Freshwater Sleepers. Freshwater; Vietnam to China, Korea, Japan, and Russia. Like Rhyacichthys but with a large scapula.
      • Micropercops, Neodontobutis, Odontobutis, Perccottus, Tetrateleotris.
      • FAMILY ELEOTRIDAE
      • Sleepers. Marine, brackish water, and freshwater of tropical and subtropical waters. Pelvic fins separate but no sucking disc; mouth never inferior; spinous dorsal fin with 2-8 spines; anal fin spineless; scaly (ctenoid or cycloid). Maximum length 60cm.
      • Subfamily Butinae: freshwater and estuaries: Butis, Incara, Kribia, Oxyeleotris.
      • Subfamily Eleotrinae: mostly freshwater and mangrove swamps: Calumia, Dormitator, Eleotris, Erotelis, Gobiomorphus, Gobiomorus, Guavina, Hypseleotris, Mogurnda, Philpnodon, Thalasseleotris.
      • FAMILY XENISTHMIDAE
      • Xenisthmids. Marine; Indian and western Pacific oceans. Lower lip with free margin.
      • Allomicrodesmus, Kraemericus, Paraxenisthmus, Rotuma, Tyson, Xenisthmus.
      • FAMILY KRAEMERIIDAE
      • Sandfishes and Sand Gobies. Marine; Indian and Pacific to Hawaii. Body long with a bilobed tongue; lower jaw protruding (enlarged chin); small eyes; no scales; dorsal and anal fins separate from the caudal fin; dorsal fin continuous with 4-6 spines; pelvic fins with 1 spine. Maximum length 6cm.
      • Gobitrichinotus, Kraemeria.
      • FAMILY GOBIIDAE
      • Gobies. Marine and brackish (occasionally freshwater); most tropical and subtropical areas. Pelvic fins large and united to form an adhesive disc; first dorsal spinous with 2-8 spines; scales (cycloid or ctenoid); head barbels prominent. Many live in association with other animals; some are semi terrestrial (mudskippers). Maximum length 50cm, most less than 10cm.
      • Subfamily Oxudercinae: mangroves and mudflats: Apocryptes, Boleophthalmus, Oxuderces, Periophthalmodon, Periophthalmus, Zappa.
      • Subfamily Amblyopinae: near estuaries and rivers: Amblyotrypauchen, Brachyamblyopus, Caragobius, Kasten, Taenioides, Trypauchen.
      • Subfamily Sicydiinae: mainly freshwater: Awaous, Cotylopus, Lentipes, Sicydium, Sicyopterus, Sicyopus, Stiphodon.
      • Subfamily Gobionella: many in freshwater: Acanthogobius, Astrabe, Brachygobius, Chasmichthys, Clevelandia, Ctenogobius, Eucyclogobius, Evorthodus, Gillichthys, Gnatholepis, Gobioides, Gobionellus, Gobiopterus, Ilypnus, Lepidogobius, Lethops, Lophiogobius, Mistichthys, Mugilogobius, Neogobius, Pandaka, Quietula, Rhinogobius, Stigmatogobius, Tridentiger, Typhlogobius.
      • Subfamily Gobiinae: Acentrogobius, Amblygobius, Anatirostum, Asterropteryx, Barbulifer, Bathygobius, Bollmannia, Coryogalops, Coryphopterus, Evermannichthys, Eviota, Gobiopsis, Gobiosoma, Gobius, Gobulus, Hetereleotris, Istigobius, Knipowitschia, Lophogobius, Lythrypnus, Microgobius, Nematogobius, Nes, Palatogobius, Parkraemeria, Potamoschistus, Priolepis, Risor, Trimma, Trimmatom, Varicus, Zebrus.
      • FAMILY MICRODESMIDAE (CERDALIDAE)
      • Wormfishes. Marine; tropical and subtropical waters. Body long and eel-like; eyes lateral and covered with small cycloid scales; lower jaw protrudes; dorsal fin along most of the body with 10-28 spines; anal fin spineless; both the dorsal and anal fins may be continuous with the caudal fin. They burrow in the substrate and may be found in coral reefs, estuaries, tidal pools, etc.
      • Cerdale, Clarkichthys, Gunnellichthys, Microdesmus, Paragunnellichthys.
      • FAMILY PTERELEOTRIDAE
      • Dartfishes. Marine; tropical and subtropical waters. Mouth vertical; first dorsal fin with 6 spines, and the second dorsal with 1 spine; anal fin with 1 spine. Some with bright colors.
      • Aioliops, Nemateleotris, Oxymetaphon, Parioglossus, Ptereleotris.
      • FAMILY SCHINDLERIIDAE
      • Infantfishes. Marine; oceanic. These are neotinic fishes; all fins present but pelvics; no spines. One is the shortest-lived, lightest and most paedomorphic vertebrate.
      • Schindleria.
    • SUBORDER KURTOIDEI
      • FAMILY KURTIDAE
      • Nurseryfishes. Brachish and freshwater in Indonesia, the Malay Archipelago and Australia. Males have an occipital hook that is used to carry eggs on the head; scales cycloid and small; large mouth; single dorsal fin with spines; anal fin with 2 spines; pelvic fin with 1 spine; caudal fin forked. Maximum length 60cm.
    • SUBORDER ACANTHUROIDEI
      • Body deeply compressed and small mouth.
      • FAMILY EPHIPPIDAE
      • Spadefishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Comb-like gill rakers; dorsal fin with 5-9 spines, spinous part of the dorsal is usually distinct and high; 3 anal fins; body deep and laterally compressed; small mouth, no teeth on the palate.
      • Chaetodipterus, Ephippus, Parapsettus, Platax, Proterocanthus, Rhinoprenes, Tripterodon, Zabidius.
      • FAMILY SCATOPHAGIDAE
      • Scats. Marine and brackish water; Indian and western Pacific oceans. Body deep and compressed; dorsal fin notched with 11-12 spines, the first of which is procumbent; anal fin with 4 spines; mouth not protractile. Maximum length 35cm.
      • Scatophagus, Selenotoca.
      • FAMILY SIGANIDAE
      • Rabbitfishes. Marine; tropical Indian and western Pacific oceans. Fish fins with strong venomous spines; Pelvic fins with 2 spines; dorsal fin with 13 spines; anal fin with 7 spines; jaws with bicuspid teeth. Herbivores. Maximum length 50cm.
      • Eocene and Olicocene to present.
      • Siganus, Archaeoteuthis+, Eosiganus+, Ruffoichthys+, Siganopygaeus+.
      • FAMILY LUVARIDAE
      • Louvar. Marine; tropical and subtropical seas. Dorsal fin with 2 spines (anterior spines lost as the fish grows); anal fins without spines.
      • Eocene to present.
      • Luvarus, Avitoluvarus+, Kushlukia+.
      • FAMILY ZANCLIDAE
      • Moorish Idols. Marine; tropical Indian and western PacificOocean. The fish are nearly circular with a pronounced snout used to feed in crevices of the coral reef; dorsal fin with a longdorsal fin filament; spine in protuberance in front of eye.
      • Zanclus.
      • FAMILY ACANTHURIDAE
      • Surgeonfishes. Marine; all tropical and subtropical seas. Pelvic fin with 1 spine; dorsal fin with 4-9 spines; anal fin with 2-3 spines
      • Eocene and Oligocene to present.
      • Subfamily Nasinae (Unicornfishes) 2 anal spines; 1-2 plates on caudal peduncle: Naso.
      • Subfamily Acanthutinae: 3 anal spines; 1 or more moveable spines on caudal peduncle: Prionurus, Paracanthus, Zebrasome, Acanthurus, Ctenochaetus.
    • SUBORDER SCOMBROLABRACOIDEI
      • FAMILY SCOMBROLABRACIDAE
      • Longfin Escolars. Marine; deepwater; Atlantic, Indian, Pacific oceans. Mouth protractile, operculum serrated; thin swim bladder with elaborations into vertebral bullae. Maximum size 30cm.
      • Scombrolabrax.
    • SUBORDER SCOMBROIDEI
      • Jaw not protrusible; teeth ankylosed.
      • FAMILY SPHYRAENIDAE
      • Barracudas. Marine; tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Long body and large mouth with jutting lower jaw; large teeth; pectoral fins low; dorsal fins separated, the first has 5 spines, the second has 1 spine. Maximum length 1.8m.
      • Sphyraena.
      • FAMILY GEMPYLIDAE
      • Snake Mackerels. Marine; deep water fishes of tropical and subtropical seas. Body long and compressed; jutting lower jaw and long teeth; spinous dorsal fin long followed by small soft dorsal; anal fin with 1-3 spines resembles soft dorsal; both anal and soft dorsal followed by finlets; pelvic fin with 1 spine.
      • Diplospinus, Epinnula, Gempylus, Lepidocybium, Nealotus, Neoepinnula, Nesiarchus, Paradiplospinus, Promethichthys, Rexea, Rexichthys, Ruvettus, Thyrsites, Thyrsitoides, Thyrsitops, Tongaichthys.
      • FAMILY TRICHIURIDAE
      • Cutlassfishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, Pacific oceans. Body very long and compressed with protruding lower jaw; single dorsal fin long, spinous part usually shorter than soft rayed part; anal fin with 2 spines; caudal fin reduced or absent.
      • Subfamily Aphanopodinae: caudal fin small and forked; pelvic fin present but reduced; spinous portion of dorsal with 38-46 spines: Aphanopus, Benthodesmus.
      • Subfamily Trichurinae (Hairtails) no caudal fin or pelvic fin; spinous portion of dorsal fin reduced to 3-4 spines: Demissolinea, Lepturacanthus, Trichiurus.
      • FAMILY SCOMBRIDAE
      • Mackerels and Tunas. Marine; tropical and subtropical seas. Fish with 2 dorsal fins that are depressible into grooves; 5-12 finlets behind the second dorsal and anal fin; caudal peduncle with 2 keels; pelvic fins without spines and the pectoral high on the body. Some taxa are endothermic. Maximum length 4.2m.
      • Subfamily Gasterochismatinae: scales moderate in size; pelvic fins long and fit into ventral groove: Gasterochisma.
      • Subfamily Scombrinae scales minute or absent (Mackerels): Rastrelliger, Scomber, (Spanish Mackerels) Acanthocybium, Grammatorcynus, Scomberomorus, (Bonitos) Cybiosarda, Gymnosarda, Orcynopsis, Sarda, (Tunas) Allothunnus, Auxis, Euthynnus, Katsuwonus, Thunnus.
      • FAMILY XIPHIIDAE
      • Swordfishes. Marine; tropical and subtropical seas. Bill flattened; scales absent; no pelvic fins; no teeth in jaws; caudal peduncle with single keel on each side. Maximum length 4.5m.
      • Xiphias.
      • FAMILY ISTIOPHORIDAE
      • Billfishes. Marine; tropical and subtropical seas. Bill rounded; scales present; pelvic fins elongate; depressible dorsal fin sail-like; jaws with teeth; caudal peduncle with 2 keels on each side. Maximum length 4m.
      • (Sailfish) Istiophorus, (Spearfishes) Tetrapturus, (Marlins) Makaira.
    • SUBORDER STROMATEOIDEI
    • Scales usually cycloid; caudal fin with 15 beanched rays; length up to 1.2m
      • FAMILY AMARSIPIDAE
      • Amarsipas. Marine; tropical Indian and Pacific oceans. Pelvic fins present and under the head; first dorsal fin with 10-12 short spines; anal fin with no spines. No adults of this fish are known. Body translucent.
      • Amarsipus.
      • FAMILY CENTROLOPHIDAE
      • Medusafishes. Marine; tropical to temperate, all seas. Pelvic fins in adults; dorsal fin continuous with 0-5 spines; anal fin with three spines.
      • Centrolophus, Hyperoglyphe, Icichthys, Psenopsis, Schedophilus, Seriolella, Tubbia.
      • FAMILY NOMEIDAE
      • Driftfishes. Marine; tropical and subtropical seas. Pelvic fins present in adults; 2 dorsal fins, the first with 9-12 spines and the second with 0-3 spines; anal fin with 1-3 spines. Maximum length 1m.
      • Cubiceps, Nomeus, Psenes.
      • FAMILY ARIOMMATIDAE
      • Ariommatids. Marine; deep water, tropical and subtropical coasts of eastern Americas, Africa, Asia, to Hawaii. Pelvic fins present in adults; 2 dorsal fins, the first with 10-12 spines, the second soft; anal fin with 3 spines; caudal peduncle with 2 fleshy keels.
      • Ariomma.
      • FAMILY TETRAGONURIDAE
      • Squaretails. <arine; tropical and subtropical seas. Body long; pelvic fins in adults; 2 dorsal fins, the first with 10-20 spines, the second soft; anal fin with 1 spine; caudal peduncle with 1 keel. Feed on coelenterates and ctenophores.
      • Tetragonurus.
      • FAMILY STROMATEIDAE
      • Butterfishes. Marine; coastal Americas, western Africa, and southern Asia. Body deep; pelvics absent in adult; dorsal fin continuous; anal fin with 2-6 spines.
      • Panpus, Peprilus, Stomateus.
    • SUBORDER ANABANTOIDEI
    • Dorsal and anal fins with spines; pelvic fins present and thoracic, with 1 spine. Suprabranchial organ allows them to breathe air.
      • FAMILY ANABANTIDAE
      • Climbing Gouramies. Freshwater; Africa and India to Philippines. Mouth large with jaw teeth and palate teeth; cycloid scales.
      • Anabas, Ctenopoma, Microctenopoma, Sandelia.
      • FAMILY HELOSTOMATIDAE
      • Kissing Gouramies. Freshwater; Thailand to Malay Archipelago. No teeth on jaws or palate; dorsal fin with 16-18 spines; anal fin with 13-15 spines; scales on top of the head cycloid, other ctenoid; many gillrakers that form a filter; horny “teeth” allow it to scrape algae off substrates. Maximum length 30cm.
      • Helostoma.
      • FAMILY OSPHRONEMIDAE
      • Gouramies. Freshwater; Pakistan and India to Southeast Asia. Diverse family with 4 subfamilies.
      • Subfamily Osphroneminae (Giant Gouramies) Freshwater, palate without teeth; all scales ctenoid; dorsal fin with 11-16 spines; anal fin with 9-12 spines; mamimum length 80cm: Osphronemus.
      • Subfamily Belontiinae (Combtail Gouramies): Belontia.
      • Subfamily Macropidinae (Siamese Fighting Fishes and Paradisefishes) some are oral brooders and others are bubble nesters: Betta, Macropodus, Malpulutta, Parosphromenus, Pseudosphromenus.
      • Subfamily Luciocephalinae: Freshwater, Luciocephalus is quite different in that it has no spines; all with a pelvic fin ray elongated into a thread: Colisa, Ctenops, Luciocephalus, Parasphaerichthys, Sphaerichthys, Trichogaster.
    • SUBORDER CHANNOIDEI (OPHIOCEPHALIFORMES)
      • FAMILY CHANNIDAE
      • Snakeheads. Freshwater; tropical Africa and southern Asia. Body long; long dorsal and anal fins; most with pelvic fins; they have no fin spines; lower jaw protrudes. They have a suprabranchial organ present. Maximum length 1.2m.
      • Channa, Parachanna.
    • SUBORDER CAPROIDEI
      • FAMILY CAPROIDAE
      • Boarfishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Ocean. Body with small ctenoid scales; dorsal fin with 7-9 spines; anal fin with 2-3 spines; pelvic fin wit 1 spine; distinct saggital crest.
      • Subfamily Antigoniinae: red fishes with deep and compressed bodies; body scales with elevated ridge; dorsal fin with 8-9 spines; 3 anal fin spines: Antigonia (also known from the Eocene and Miocene).
      • Subfamily Caproinae: no abdominal spinous plates: Capros.
  • ORDER PLEURONECTIFORMES (HETEROSOMATA)
  • Flatfishes. As adults they lie on one side with one eye migrating to the top side of the animal; eyes usually are stalked or elevated so that fish can see when it is buried in the substrate; dorsal and anal fins long; body compressed; no swim bladder.
    • SUBORDER PSETTODOIDEI
    • Dorsal fin does not extend past the eye; dorsal and anal fins spinous; palatine with teeth.
      • FAMILY PSETTODIDAE
      • Spiny Turbots. Marine; western Africa and Indian to western Pacific Oceans. Pelvic fins symmetrical with 1 spine; large mouth; jaw teeth with barbs; gill arches with teeth; eyes sinistral or dextral. Maximum length 60cm.
      • Psettodes.
    • SUBORDER PLEURONECTOIDEI
    • Dorsal fin extends at least to the eye; dorsal and anal fins without spines; palatine without teeth.
      • FAMILY CITHARIDAE
      • Largescale Flounders. Marine; Mediterranean, Indian, western Pacific Oceans. Pelvic fins with 1 spine. The monophyly of this family is in question.
      • Brachypleura, Citharoides, Citharus, Lepidoblepharon, Paracitharus.
      • FAMILY SCOPHTHALMIDAE
      • Turbots. Marine; northern Atlantic, Baltic, Mediterranean, and Black seas. Eyes sinestral; pelvic finbases long; large mouth with prominent lower jaw. Maximum length 1m.
      • Lepidorhombus, Phyrnorhombus, Scophthalmus, Zeugopterus.
      • FAMILY PARALICHTHYIDAE
      • Sand Flounders or Largetooth Flounders. Marine, rarely in freshwater); Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Eyes sinistral; pelvic fins with short fin bases. Maximum length 1.5m.
      • Ancyclopsetta, Cephalopsetta, Citharichthys, Cyclopsetta, Etropus, Gastropsetta, Hippoglossina, Lioglossina, Paralichthys, Pseudorhombus, Syacium, Tarphops, Tephrenectes, Thysanopsetta, Verecundum, Xystreurys.
      • FAMILY PLEURONECTIDAE
      • Righteye Flounders. Marine; Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Eyes always dextral; dorsal fin begins in front of the eyes; pelvic fin symmetrical.
      • Subfamily Hippoglossinae: Atheresthes, Clidoderma, Hippoglossus, Reinhardtius, Verasper.
      • Subfamily Eopsettinae: Eopsetta.
      • Subfamily Lyopsettinae: Lyopsetta.
      • Subfamily Hippoglossoidinae: Acanthopsetta, Cleisthenes, Hippoglossoides.
      • Subfamily Pleuronectinae: Psettichthys, Isopsetta, Dexites, Embassichthys, Glyptocephalus, Lepidopsetta, Microstomus, Pleuronichthys, Limanda, Parophrys, Platichthys, Pleuronectes, Pseudopleuronectes.
      • FAMILY BOTHIDAE
      • Lefteye Flounders. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Eyes sinistral; pelvic bases assymetrical; eyed side longer than bottom side, and without a spine.
      • Arnoglossus, Asterorhombus, Bothus, Chascanopsetta, Crossorhombus, Engyprosopon, Engyophrys, Grammatobothus, Japonolaeops, Kamoharaia, Laeops, Lophonectes, Monolene, Neolaeops, Parabothus, Perissias, Psettina, Taeniopsetta, Tosarhombus, Trichopsetta.
      • FAMILY PARALICHTHODIDAE
      • Measles Flounders. Marine; southern Africa. Origin of dorsal fin in front of the eye; top side of the animal is brown-gray with small dark dots.
      • Paralichthodes.
      • FAMILY POECILOPSETTIDAE
      • Bigeye Flounders. Marine; inn deep water of Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin begins above the eye; pelvic fins symmetrical.
      • Marleyella, Nematops, Poecilopsetta.
      • FAMILY RHOMBOSOLEIDAE
      • Rhombosoelids. Marine; mainly found in the South Pacific. Pelvic fins assymetrical, the one on the top side may be continuous with the anal fin.
      • Ammotretis, Azygopus, Colistium, Oncopterus, Pelotretis, Peltorhamphus, Psammodiscus, Rhombosolea, Taratretis.
      • FAMILY ACHIROPSETTIDAE
      • Southern Flounders. Marine; Southern Hemisphere distributed in the Antarctic and subantarctic. Eyes sinistral; body unusually compressed; pectoral fins reduced or absent.
      • Achiropsetta, Mancopsetta, Neochiropsetta, Pseudomancopsetta.
      • FAMILY SAMARIDAE
      • Crested Flounders. Marine; deep water of the tropical ans subtropical Indian and western Pacific oceans. Dorsal fin origin in front of the eyes; pelvic fins symmetrical; initial rays of the dorsal fin make a learge crest.
      • Plagiopsetta, Samaris, Samariscus.
      • FAMILY ACHIRIDAE
      • American Soles. Marine and freshwater. From the US to Argentina. Eyes dextral; dorsal and anal fins free from caudal; right pelvic fin continuous with the anal fin.
      • Achirus, Apionichthys, Baiostoma, Catathyridium, Gymnarchirus, Hypoclinemus, Trinectes.
      • FAMILY SOLEIDAE
      • Soles. Marine; tropical to temperate seas; Europe to Asia, Australia and Africa; one freshwater species in Africa. Eyes dextral; dorsal and anal fins may be continuous with caudal fin; pelvic fins are free from the anal fin.
      • Achiroides, Aespoia, Aseraggodes, Bathysolea, Brachirus, Dagetichthys, Heteromycteris, Liachirus, Microchirus, Pardachirus, Pegusa, Solea, Aynaptura, Zebrias.
      • FAMILY CYNOGLOSSIDAE
      • Tonguefishes. Marine; tropical and subtropical. Eyes sinistral; dorsal, anal, and caudal fins continuous; pelvic fins assymetrical, pelvic on the eyeless side reduced and often united with the anal fin, pelvic on the eyeless side usually absent; pectoral fins absent; eyes close together and mouth asymmetrical. Maximum length 48cm.
      • Subfamily Symphurinae: mouth terminal and straight; pelvic fin free from anal, deep water: Symphurus.
      • Subfamily Cynoglossinae: Mouth hooked; pelvic fin continuous with anal fin, shallow water burrowers: Cynoglossus, Parapausia.
  • ORDER TETRADONTIFORMES (PLECTOGNATHI)
    • SUBORDER PLECTOCRETACICOIDEI+
    • These occurred in the Upper Cretaceous Period.
      • FAMILY CRETATRIACANTHIDAE+
      • FAMILY PLECTOCRETACICIDAE+
      • FAMILY PROTRIACANTHIDAE+
    • SUBORDER TRIACANTHODOIDEI
      • Fish have a large pelvic fin spine that can be locked; upper jaw protractible; dorsal fin usually with 6 spines.
      • FAMILY TRIACANTHODIDAE
      • Spikefishes. Marine; tropical and subtropical deepwater benthic environments of western Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific Oceans.
      • Subfamily Hollardinae: Hollardia.
      • Subfamily Triacanthoidinae: Atrophacanthus, Bathyphylax, Halimochirurgus, Johnsonina, Macrorhamphosodes, Mephisto, Paratriacanthodes, Triacanthodes, Tydemania.
    • SUBORDER BALISTOIDEI (SCLERODERMI)
    • Frontal bones extend forward to the articulation between the lateral ethmoid and ethmoid.
      • FAMILY MOCLAYBALISTIDAE+
      • FAMILY BOBCABALISTIDAE+
      • FAMILY EOSPINIDAE+
      • FAMILY SPINACANTHIDAE+
      • FAMILY PROTOBALISTIDAE+
      • FAMILY TRIACANTHIDAE
      • Triplespines. Marine; shallow benthis environments of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. Dorsal fin separated, first dorsal spinous (5 spines); caudal fin forked.
      • Eocene to the present.
      • Pseudotriacanthus, Triacanthus, Tripodichthys, Trixiphichthys, Protacanthodes+.
      • FAMILY BALISTIDAE
      • Triggerfishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Fish with two dorsal fins, the first dorsal has 3 spines; upper jaw with 4 teeth in outer series and 3 teeth in inner series on each premaxillary, used for crushing.
      • Abalistes, Balistapus, Balistoides, Canthidermis, Melichthys, Odonus, Rhinecanthus, Sufflamen, Xanthichthys, Xenobalistes.
      • FAMILY MONACANTHIDAE
      • Filefishes. Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Usually 2 dorsal spines (the second might be reduced or absent) on the first dorsal; the second dorsal, and anal fins are spineless; scales small with extensions such that the animals feel prickly or furry; upper jaw with 3 teeth in outer and 2 in the inner series on each premaxillary (apparatus useful for nibbling).
      • Pliocene to the present.
      • Aluterus, Amanses, Anacanthus, Brachaluteres, Cantherhines, Chaetoderma, Enigmacanthus, Monacanthus, Navodon, Oxymonacanthus, Paraluteres, Paramonacanthus, Pervagor, Pseudalutarius, Rudarius, Stephanolepis, Thamnoconus.
      • FAMILY OSTRACIIDAE (OSTRACIONTIDAE)
      • Boxfishes (Cowfishes and Trunkfishes). Marine; tropical; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Body encased in a bony carapace; no pelvic fins or skeleton; no spinous dorsal fin; upper jaw not protractile. Maximum length 60cm. Some release a toxic substance (ostracitoxin).
      • Eocene and Oligocene to present
      • Eolactoria+, Proaracana+, Oligolactoria+.
      • Subfamily Aracaninae: carapace opens behind the dorsal and anal fins, deep water fishes: Anoplocapros, Aracana, Caprichthys, Capropygia, Kentrocapros, Polyplacapros, Strophiurichthys.
      • Subfamily Ostraciinae: Carapace closedbehind the anal fin: Acanthostracion, Lactophrys, Lactoria, Ostracion, Rhinesomus, Rhynchostracion, Tetrosomus.
    • SUBORDER TETRADONTOIDEI
    • No teeth, but beak-like cutting edges on the jaws; upper jaw not protractile; pelvis absent.
    • Eocene to the present (Eoplectus+, Zignoichthys+)
      • FAMILY TRIODONTIDAE
      • Threetooth Puffers. Marine; Indian to western Pacific Oceans. Three fused “teeth”; pelvis present; dorsal and anal fins mostly soft; the dorsal has a small spine; caudal fin forked.
      • Triodon.
      • FAMILY TETRADONTIDAE
      • Puffers. Marine, but a few enter into brackish and freshwater; tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Body can be inflated and naked (or a few prickles on the belly); mouth with 4 fused teeth; dorsal and anal fins soft; caudal fin forked. Some with toxin in their muscles and gonads (an alkaloid called tetraodotoxin).
      • Subfamily Tetradontinae: body rounded: Amblyrhnchotes, Arothron, Carinotetraodon, Colomesus, Contusus, Ferrodoxon, Javichthys, Lagocephalus, Omegophora, Sphoeroides, Takifugu, Tetraodon, Torquigener, X before inflationenopterus.
      • Subfamily Canthigastrinae (Sharpnose Pufferfishes) body laterally compressed: Canthigaster.
      • FAMILY DIODONTIDAE
      • Porcupinefishes (Burrfishes). Marine; Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Body inflatable; body covered with sharp spines that become erect when the body inflates; 2 fused “teeth” in jaws, making them parrot-like. Adults are inshore fishes.
      • Allomycterus, Chilomyceterus, Cyclichthys, Diodon, Lophodiodon, Tragulichthys.
      • FAMILY MOLIDAE
      • Molas or Ocean Sunfishes. Marine; tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Jaws with 2 fused “teeth”; no spines or caudal peduncle; have long anal and dorsal fins; no swim bladder. They feed on jellyfish and can produce up to 300 million eggs. Maximum length 2m and can weigh up to 1,000kg.
      • Eocene to present
      • Masturus, Mola, Ranzania, Eomola+.
  • SUBCLASS SARCOPTERYGII (SISTER TO TETRAPODA)
  • Fish with lobed paired fins. The dominant group in the Devonian. Survived by only a few species today. Nelson (2006) considers this taxon to be at the rank of class and contain all of the tetrapods. The taxonomy of this group is a compromise between Benton (2004) and Nelson (2006).
    • SUPERORDER COELOCANTHIMORPHA
      • ORDER ACTINISTIA (COELOCANTHIFORMES)
      • The coelocanths. Deep bodies fishes. All fins are lobed except the anterior dorsal fin. The tail is divided into dorsal, ventral and a characteristic median lobe. Middle Devonian to present
      • Latimeria, Osteopleurus+
        • FAMILY MIGUASHAIIDAE+
        • Devonian
        • Miguashaia.
        • FAMILY DIPLOCERCIDAE+
        • Devonian to lower Carboniferous.
        • Diplocercides.
        • FAMILY RHABDODERMATIDAE+
        • Carboniferous
        • Caridosuctor, Rhabdoderma.
        • FAMILY LAUGIIDAE+
        • Lower Triassic to lower Cretaceous
        • Coccoderma, Laugia.
        • FAMILY WHITEIIDAE+
        • Triassic.
        • Whiteia.
        • FAMILY COELOCANTHIDAE+
        • Alelia, Coelocanthus, Wimania.
        • FAMILY MAWSONIIDAE+
        • Triassic to Juriassic
        • Alcoveria, Axelrodichthys, Chinlea, Diplurus, Mawsonia.
        • FAMILY LATIMERIIDAE
        • Gombessas or Coelocanths. Marine; off southern Africa and Indonesia. These fishes have an intracranial joint. Maximum length of living taxa is 1.8m. Living species are livebearing.
        • Jurassic to the present
        • Latimeria, Holophagus+, Librys+, Macropoma+, Undina+.
    • SUPERORDER DIPNOMORPHA (DIPNOTETRAPODOMORPHA)
      • ORDER DIPNOI
      • The lungfishes. Generally, body is long; teeth reduced to a few pavements.
      • Lower (?) Devonian to present
        • SUBORDER DIPTERIMORPHA+
        • Caudal fin heterocercal or diphycercal.
          • FAMILY YOUNGOLEPIDIDAE?
          • Lower Devonian.
          • Powichthys, Youngolepis.
          • FAMILY DIABOLEPIDAE
          • Lower Devonian.
          • Diabolepis.
          • FAMILY URANOLOPHIDAE
          • Lower Devonian.
          • FAMILY DIPNORHYNCHIDAE
          • Lower Devonian.
          • Dipnorhynchus.
          • FAMILY CHIRODIPTERIDAE
          • Chirodipterus.
          • FAMILY STOMIAHYKIDAE
          • FAMILY DIPTERIDAE
          • Dipterus.
          • FAMILY RHYNCHODIPTERIDAE
          • Griphognathus.
          • FAMILY FLEURANTIIDAE
          • FAMILY PHANEROPLEURIDAE
          • FAMILY CTENODONTIDAE
        • SUBORDER CERATODONTIMORPHA
        • Caudal fin diphicercal tail that is continuous with the dorsal and anal fins; lungs functional.
        • Lower Triassic to present.
          • FAMILY CERATODONTIDAE
          • Australian Lungfishes. Freshwater; southeastern Queensland. Pectoral and pelvic fins flipper-like; large scales; lung unpaired; larvae do not have external gills, and the adults do not aestivate.
          • Neoceratodus, Ceratodus+.
          • FAMILY LEPIDOSIRENIDAE
          • South American Lungfishes. Freshwater in Brazil and Paraguay. Body long; pectoral and pelvic fins filamentous, no rays; paired lungs; 5 gill arches and 4 gill clefts.
          • Lepidosiren.
          • FAMILY PROTOPTERIDAE
          • African Lungfishes. Freshwater; Africa. Body long; pectoral and pelvic fins filamentous, no rays; paired lungs; 6 gill arches and 5 gill clefts. Maximum length 1.8m.
          • Protopterus.
      • ORDER POROLEPIFORMES+
      • All fins lobed. Pectoral fins very long and high on the body. Teeth seem “welded” to jaw by insertion of bone. Heterocercal tail.
      • Devonian
        • FAMILY POROLEPIDAE
        • Porolepis.
        • FAMILY HOLOPTYCHIIDAE
        • Holoptychius
      • ORDER ONYCHODONTIDA+ (ONYCHODONTIFORMES+)
      • Teeth hooked; many features in common with Psarolepis and therefore may be the basal most sarcopterygian. This may be a sister to Psarolepis.
      • Devonian
      • Onychodus, Strunius.
      • ORDER RHIZODONTIDA+ (RHIZODONTIFORMES+)
      • Very large hunters (6-7m?). They may have lacked choana because they had paired nostrils.
      • Upper Devonian to the Pennsylvanian
        • FAMILY RHIZODONTIDAE
        • Barameda, Pycnoctenion, Propycnoctenion, Rhizodus, Sauripterus, Screbinodus, Strepsodus.
      • ORDER OSTEOLEPIFORMES+
      • Large mid line fins with pectorals and pelvics low on the body which was covered with thick rhombic scales; heterocercal tail; a pineal foramen.
      • Devonian to Lower Permian
      • INCERTAE SEDIS: Gogonasus.
        • FAMILY CANOWINDRIDAE
        • FAMILY MEGALICHTHYIDAE
        • Megalichthys.
        • FAMILY OSTEOLEPIDAE
        • Osteolepis, Thursius?
        • FAMILY RHIZODOPSIDAE
      • ORDER UNNAMED+
        • FAMILY TRISTICHOPTERIDAE (EUSTHENOPTERIDAE)
        • This family had traditionally been placed in the Osteolepiformes. They had symmetrical, 3-pointed tails. The teeth, which vary in length, have a labyrinthine infolding pattern, the labyrinthodont tooth was also characteristic of the earliest tetrapods. It had a jointed skull, a feature seen in Latameria and the earliest tetrapods.
        • Upper Devonian
        • Eusthenopteron
      • ORDER PANDERICHTHYIDA+ (ELPISTOSTEGALIA+)
      • Fishes with long snouts and eyes on the top of the skull. They have only the paired fins and the tail. There are no in line fins.
      • Upper Devonian
        • FAMILY ELPISTOSTEGIDAE (PANDERICHTHYIDAE)
        • Panderichthyes, Elpistostege.
      • ORDER UNNAMED (Tiktaalik)
      • A fish discovered in 2004. It had a number of tetrapod and sarcopterygian features. Its pectoral girdle was not attached to its skull so that it had a functional neck. Its body was flattened with eyes on the top of its skull. It had the typical upper limb bones, including a functional wrist. It also had many fish-like fin rays rather than ‘fingers’. It had gills and scales as well as a swimming tail.
      • Upper Devonian
      • Tiktaalik.
LITERATURE CITED

Barton, M. 2007. Bond’s Biology of Fishes. 3rd ed. Thompson Brooks/Cole. Belmont, CA.

Benton, M. J. 2005. Vertebrate Paleontology. Third Edition. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA.

Daeschler, E. B., N. H. Shubin, and F. A. Jenkins. 2006. A Devonian tetrapod-like fish and the evolution of the tetrapod body plan. Nature. 440: 757-763.

Helfman. G. S., B. B. Collette, and D. E. Facey. 1997. The Diversity of Fishes. Blackwell Science, Inc. Malden, Mass.

Moyle, P. B. and J. J. Cech. 2003. Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology. 5th ed. Benjamin Cummings. San Francisco, CA.

Nelson, J. S. 2006. Fishes of the World. 4th edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York.

Paxton, J. R. and W. N. Eschmeyer, eds. 1998. Encyclopedia of Fishes. Academic Press. San Diego, CA.

Pough, F. H., C. M. Janis, and J. B. Heiser. 2009. Vertebrate Life. 8th ed. Benjamin Cummings. New York. pp. 688.
By Jack R. Holt. Last revised: 01/19/2013
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