Ophidiiformes

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Ophidiiformes
Fawn cusk-eel, Lepophidium profundorum
Fawn cusk-eel, Lepophidium profundorum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Ophidiiformes
Families

Carapidae
Ophidiidae
Bythitidae
Aphyonidae
Parabrotulidae

Ophidiiformes is an order of ray-finned fish that includes the cusk eels (family Ophidiidae), pearlfishes (family Carapidae), brotulas (family Bythitidae), and others.

This order includes a variety of deep-sea species, including the deepest known, Abyssobrotula galatheae, found at 8,370 m in the Puerto Rico Trench.

The families Ranicipitidae (tadpole cods) and Euclichthyidae (eucla cods) were formerly classified in this order, but are now preferred in Gadiformes; Ranicipitidae has been absorbed within the family Gadidae.

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