Page 341 - (DK) Ocean - The Definitive Visual Guide

BONY FISHES 339

BONY FISHES CLASSIFICATION

Bony fish comprise the ray-finned fishes (class Actinopterygii), and COD FISH DORIES AND ALLIES
the lobe-finned fishes (class Sarcopterygii), including the lungfishes Order Gadiformes Order Zeiformes
(freshwater) and the coelacanths, but also giving rise to tetrapods
610 species 33 species
(see cladogram, p.206). Below are 30 marine orders of both classes. Ten families, mostly marine and benthic. Most Six families, all marine. Deep-bodied
with two or three spineless dorsal fins and a but thin fish; large, spiny head and
chin barbel. Grenadiers have long, thin tails. protrusile jaws. Long dorsal and anal
COELACANTHS CATFISH
Order Coelacanthiformes Order Siluriformes fins with spines at front.
TOADFISH
2 species 3,604 species
One family—the only marine lobe-finned Only two marine families out of 33. Long body, Order Batrachoidiformes STICKLEBACKS AND SEAMOTHS
fish. Fins arise from fleshy, limblike lobes, up to four pairs of barbels around mouth. Order Gasterosteiformes
vertebral column not fully formed. Sharp, sometimes venomous spine in front of 83 species
One family, mostly marine, coastal, and benthic.
dorsal and pectoral fins. Most with adipose fin. Broad, flat head, wide mouth, eyes on top; one 29 species
Five families, mostly freshwater. Long, thin,
short, spiny and one long, soft dorsal fin. stiff with bony scutes along sides, separate
STURGEONS AND PADDLEFISH
Order Acipenseriformes SMELTS spines on back. Seamoths aberrant,
Order Osmeriformes flattened with enlarged pectoral fins.
CUSK EELS
28 species
Only sturgeon family is marine. Skeleton 321 species Order Ophidiiformes
part bone, part cartilage. Sturgeons have Thirteen families, mostly marine or PIPEFISH AND SEAHORSES
asymmetrical tail and underslung mouth. anadromous. Small, slim relations of salmon. 531 species Order Syngnathiformes
Five families, mostly marine. Eel-like fish with
long dorsal and anal fin that may join with tail 364 species
fin. Thin pelvic fins. Five families, marine and freshwater. Long
TARPONS AND TENPOUNDERS SALMONS
Order Elopiformes Order Salmoniformes body encased in armor of bony plates.
ANGLERFISH, Small mouth at end of tubular snout.
ORDER LOPHIIFORMES
9 species 219 species
Two families, mostly marine. Spindle-shaped, One family with marine, anadromous, and
silvery fish, one dorsal fin, forked tail. Unique freshwater members. Powerful, spindle- SCORPIONFISH
bones in throat (gular plates). Swim bladder shaped fish, with large mouth and eyes. AND FLATHEADS
can be used as lung. Transparent larvae. One fin plus adipose fin on back. Small, Order Scorpaeniformes
rounded scales. Pelvic fins abdominal.
1,649 species
BONEFISH Thirty-six families, mostly
Order Albuliformes LIGHTFISH, DRAGONFISH, marine. Mainly shallow water, benthic.
Large, spiny head, most with spiny dorsal
AND HATCHETFISH
13 species Order Stomiiformes fins, often venomous. Unique bony strut
One family, mostly marine. Similar
to tarpons, but smaller and very bony, across cheek.
426 species
with complex structural differences. Four abundant, deep-ocean families. Mostly
elongate predators with large teeth and PERCHLIKE FISH
photophores. Significant part of ocean’s fishes. Order Perciformes
11,061 species
164 families, marine and freshwater.
GRINNERS
ANGLERFISH
Order Aulopiformes Order Lophiiformes Largest and most diverse vertebrate order.
Most have both spines and soft rays in
263 species
358 species dorsal and anal fins. Pelvic fins close to
Sixteen families, all marine. Diverse, slim Eighteen families, all marine. Large, flattened
coastal and deep-sea fish. Large mouth with or rounded head with cavernous mouth and pectorals and with one spine. Perciform
many small teeth. Pelvic fins abdominal, one fishing lure on top. Shallow-water species classification subject to change.
fin plus adipose fin on back, no fin spines. benthic; deep-water species pelagic.
MORAY EEL, ORDER ANGUILLIFORMES
LANTERNFISH CLINGFISH
Order Myctophiformes
EELS Order Gobiesociformes
Order Anguilliformes
252 species
162 species
Two deep-ocean, widely distributed, abundant
908 species One family, mostly marine. Small, shallow-
Marine and freshwater, 16 families. Body families. Small, slim fish, large eyes and water, benthic fish; pelvic fins forming
long and thin, no scales or pelvic fins, one mouth. One fin plus adipose fin on back. sucker-disk. Eyes set high; single dorsal fin.
long fin along back, tail, and belly. Many photophores. Daily vertical migration.
NEEDLEFISH
Order Beloniformes
VELIFERS, TUBE-EYES,
SWALLOWERS AND GULPERS
Order Saccopharyngiformes AND RIBBONFISH
Order Lampriformes 266 species TURBOT, ORDER PLEURONECTIFORMES
Six families, marine and freshwater. Mostly
28 species
Four families of highly aberrant deep-sea, 25 species long, thin fish with jaws extended as beaks. FLATFISH
eel-like fish with huge, loose jaws; no tail Seven families, all marine. Colorful, bright, Flying fish have large pectoral and pelvic fins. Order Pleuronectiformes
fin, pelvic fins, scales, ribs, or swim bladder. often huge, open-water fish with crimson
fins. Many have long rays from dorsal fin. 796 species
Eleven families, mostly marine. Lie on sea-
SILVERSIDES
Order Antheriniformes
HERRINGS bed. Body flattened from side to side, both
Order Clupeiformes eyes on upper side. Start life as normal,
344 species

Ten families, marine and freshwater. Small, symmetrical fish larvae in plankton.
399 species
Seven families, mostly marine. Silvery body slim, silvery fish; most with two dorsal fins,
with keeled belly and forked tail. Anchovies often in large shoals. PUFFERS AND FILEFISH
and herring comprise two biggest families. Order Tetraodontiformes
SQUIRRELFISH AND RELATIVES
Order Beryciformes 437 species
MILKFISH Ten families, marine and freshwater. Very
Order Gonorynchiformes
diverse group ranges from triggerfish to
161 species OCEAN LIFE
Seven families, all marine. Deep-bodied, big ocean sunfish. Small mouth with few large
37 species
Four families, only milkfish and beaked eyes (except deep-water), dorsal fin spiny at teeth or tooth plates. Scales usually
salmon marine. Pelvic fins set far back. HERRING, ORDER CLUPEIFORMES front, forked tail, large scales. Most nocturnal. modified as plates, spines, or shields.