Gonorynchiformes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gonorynchiformes
Fossil range: Early Cretaceous - Recent
Milkfish, Chanos chanos
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Superorder: Ostariophysi
Order: Gonorynchiformes
Families

Chanidae (milkfish)
Gonorynchidae (beaked salmons)
Kneriidae (shellears)
Phractolaemidae (hingemouths)

Gonorynchiformes is an order of ray-finned fish that includes the important food source, the milkfish (Chanos chanos, family Chanidae), and a number of lesser-known types, both marine and freshwater.

The alternate spelling "Gonorhynchiformes", with an "h", is frequently seen but not official.

Gonorynchiformes have small mouths and no teeth. They are the sole group in the clade Anotophysi, a subgroup of the superorder Ostariophysi. They are characterized by a primitive Weberian apparatus formed by the first three vertebrae and one or more cephalic ribs.[1]

[edit] Taxonomy

Although many of the families are currently rather small, there are several fossil genera. Here is a listing of the groups of Gonorynchiformes including fossil fish with a short description.[1] They are listed in approximate order of how primitive their characteristics are.

Order Sorbininardiformes (extinct)

Family Sorbininardidae (extinct)
Sorbininardus (extinct) - sister group to all other Gonorynchiformes

Order Gonorynchiformes

Suborder Chanoidei
Aethalinopsis (extinct) - sister group to Chanidae from Early Cretaceous.
Family Chanidae - milkfishes
Subfamily Rubiesichthyinae (extinct)
Gordichthys (extinct) - Early Cretaceous Chanid
Rubiesichthys (extinct) - Early Cretaceous Chanid
Subfamily Chaninae
Chanos
Dastilbe (extinct) - Early Cretaceous Chanid
Parachanos (extinct) - Early Cretaceous Chanid
Tharrhias (extinct) - Early Cretaceous Chanid
Suborder Gonorynchoidei - beaked sandfishes
Apulichthys (extinct) - primitive sister group to Gonorynchoids.
Family Gonorynchidae
Notogoneus (extinct) - from North America, Europe, Australia; some freshwater; Late Cretaceous to Oligocene; sister group to Gonorynchus
Charitosomus (extinct) - Cretaceous Gonorynchid
Judeichthys (extinct)
Ramallichthys (extinct)
Charitopsis (extinct)
Gonorynchus
Suborder Knerioidei
Family Kneriidae
Cromeria
Grasseichthys
Kneria
Parakneria
Family Phractolaemidae
Phractolaemus

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Nelson, Joseph, S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. ISBN 0471250317.