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Perciformes

(Order)

Overview

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The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, is the largest of vertebrates containing about 40% of all bony fish. Perciformes means perch-like. They belong to the ray-finned fish and comprise over 7000 species found in almost all aquatic environments. They are also the most variably sized order of vertebrates, ranging from the 7mm Schindleria brevipinguis to the 5mMakaira species. They first appeared and diversified in the Late Cretaceous.

Characteristics

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Perciformes are easy to recognize. The dorsal and anal fins are divided into anterior spiny and posterior soft-rayed portions, which may be partially or completely separated. The pelvic fins usually have one spine and up to five soft rays, positioned unusually far forward by the throat or under the belly. Scales are usually ctenoid, although sometimes they are cycloid or otherwise modified. Various other, more technical characters define the group.[clarification needed]

Taxonomy

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Classification is controversial. As traditionally defined the Perciformes are almost certainly paraphyletic. Other orders that should possibly be included as suborders are the Scorpaeniformes, Tetraodontiformes, and Pleuronectiformes. Of the presently recognized suborders several may be paraphyletic as well.

These are grouped by suborder/superfamily, generally following the text Fishes of the World.

Photos

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Taxonomy

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The Order Perciformes is further organized into finer groupings including:

Families

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Acanthoclinidae

[more]

Acanthuridae

Acanthuridae ("thorn tail") is the of surgeonfishes, tang, and unicornfishes. The family includes about 80 species in six genera, all of which are marine fish living in tropical seas, usually around coral reefs. Many of the species are brightly colored and popular for aquaria. [more]

Acropomatidae

Acropomatidae, also known as the lanternbellies or the temperate ocean-basses, is a family of fish consisting of 33 marine species. Members of Acropoma are notable for having light-emitting organs alongside their undersides. They are found in all temperate and tropical oceans, usually at depths of several hundred meters. [more]

Amarsipidae

[more]

Ambassidae

The Asiatic glassfishes are a , Ambassidae, of freshwater and marine fishes in the order Perciformes. The species in the family are native to the waters of Asia and Oceania and the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. The family includes eight genera and about fifty species. [more]

Ammodytidae

A sand lance or sandlance is a belonging to the family Ammodytidae. Several species of sand lance are commonly known as "sand eels" or "sandeels", though they are not related to true eels. Another variant name is launce, and all names of the fish are references to its slender body and pointed snout. The family name (and genus name, Ammodytes) means "sand burrower", which describes the sand lance's habit of burrowing into sand to avoid tidal currents. [more]

Amphistiidae

[more]

Anabantidae

The Anabantidae are a of perciform fish commonly called the climbing gouramies or climbing perches. As labyrinth fishes, they possess a labyrinth organ, a structure in the fish's head which allows them to breathe atmospheric oxygen. Fish of this family are commonly seen gulping at air at the surface of the water; which then passes out of their gills or mouth when they dive beneath the surface. [more]

Anarhichadidae

The wolffishes are a family, Anarhichadidae, of fishes. They are native to cold waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, where they live on the continental shelf and slope, to depths of about 600 m. They are bottom-feeders, eating hard-shelled invertebrates such as clams, echinoderms and crustaceans, which they crush with strong canine and molar teeth. The longest species, Anarrhichthys ocellatus, grows to 240 cm in length. [more]

Aplodactylidae

Marblefishes are a family, Aplodactylidae, of fishes. They are native to southern Australia, New Zealand, Peru and Chile. [more]

Apogonidae

Cardinalfishes are a family, Apogonidae, of . They are found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans, they are chiefly marine, but some species are found in brackish water. A handful of species are kept in the aquarium and are popular as small, peaceful, and colorful fish. [more]

Arambourgellidae

[more]

Ariommatidae

Ariommatidae is a family of fishes. The family contains a single genus Ariomma. [more]

Ariommidae

[more]

Arripidae

Australian salmon or Australasian salmon, known as kahawai in , are medium-sized perciform marine fish of the small family Arripidae (also spelled Arripididae). Four species are recognized, all within the genus Arripis; they are found in the waters off southern Australia (including Tasmania) and New Zealand. Despite the common name, Australian salmon are not related to the salmon (family Salmonidae) of the Northern Hemisphere; the former were named so by early European settlers after their superficial resemblance to the salmoniform fishes. [more]

Artedidraconidae

[more]

Badidae

[more]

Banjosidae

Banjos banjos is a fish, the only species in the genus Banjos and family Banjosidae. [more]

Bathyclupeidae

Bathyclupeidae is a small family of fishes, containing seven species in the single genus Bathyclupea. [more]

Bathydraconidae

The Antarctic dragonfishes are a family, Bathydraconidae, of deep-sea fishes. [more]

Bathymasteridae

Ronquils (sometimes spelt ronchils) are marine fish of the small family Bathymasteridae. Found only in Arctic and North Pacific waters, the ronquil family contains just seven species in three genera. The larger species are important to commercial fisheries as food fish. Ronquils are most closely related to the eelpouts and prowfish. [more]

Belontiidae

The gourami or gouramis are a , Osphronemidae, of freshwater perciform fishes. The fish are native to Asia, from Pakistan and India to the Malay Archipelago and north-easterly towards Korea. "Gouramis" is an example of a redundant plural. Gourami is already plural, in its original language. [more]

Blenniidae

Combtooth blennies are ; perciform marine fish of the family Blenniidae. They are the largest family of blennies, with approximately 371 species in 53 genera represented. Combtooth blennies are found in tropical and subtropical waters in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans; some species are also found in brackish and even freshwater environments. [more]

Bovichthyidae

The thornfishes are a family, Bovichtidae, of fishes in the order . The family is spelled Bovichthyidae in J. S. Nelson's Fishes of the World. They are native to coastal waters off Australia, New Zealand, and South America, and to rivers and lakes of southeast Australia and Tasmania. [more]

Bovichtidae

The thornfishes are a family, Bovichtidae, of fishes in the order . The family is spelled Bovichthyidae in J. S. Nelson's Fishes of the World. They are native to coastal waters off Australia, New Zealand, and South America, and to rivers and lakes of southeast Australia and Tasmania. [more]

Bramidae

Pomfret are fishes belonging to the family Bramidae. [more]

Caesionidae

The fusilier fishes are a , Caesionidae, of fishes in the order Perciformes. They are related to the snappers, but adapted for feeding on plankton, rather than on larger prey. [more]

Callanthiidae

The splendid perches are a small family, Callanthiidae, of fishes in the order . [more]

Callionymidae

Dragonets are small marine fish of the diverse family Callionymidae (from the Greek kallis, "beautiful" and onyma, "name"). Found mainly in the tropical waters of the western Indo-Pacific, the family contains approximately 186 species in 18 genera. The Draconettidae may be considered a sister family, whose members are very much alike though rarely seen. Due to similarities in morphology and behaviour, dragonets are sometimes confused with members of the goby family. [more]

Carangidae

Carangidae is a family of fish which includes the jacks, , jack mackerels, and scads. [more]

Caristiidae

Manefishes are fishes in the family Caristiidae. They are deep-sea marine fishes that eat siphonophores. [more]

Centracanthidae

Centracanthidae is a small family of fishes in the order , known as picarels. They are found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean. The anal fin has three sharp spines, hence the name, from Greek kentron meaning "sharp point" and akantha meaning "thorn". [more]

Centrarchidae

The sunfishes are a (Centrarchidae) of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the order Perciformes. The type genus is Centrarchus (consisting solely of the flier, C. macropterus). The family's 27 species includes many fishes familiar to North Americans, including the rock bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and crappies. All are native only to North America. [more]

Centrogeniidae

[more]

Centrolophidae

Medusafishes are a family, Centrolophidae, of fishes. They are found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. [more]

Centropomidae

The Centropomidae are a single family of freshwater and marine fishes in Order Perciformes, including the common snook or róbalo, Centropomus undecimalis. Prior to 2004, three other genera were placed in Centropomidae in subfamily Latinae, which has since been raised to the family level and renamed Latidae because a cladistic analysis showed the old Centropomidae to be paraphyletic. Each of the four species (fat, swordspine, common, and tarpon) can be easily identified by their lateral black line. They are good tablefare, and are a sought after gamefish but tricky to catch. [more]

Chaenopsidae

The family Chaenopsidae includes the pike-blennies, tube-blennies and flagblennies: all perciform marine fish. The family is strictly tropical, ranging from North to South America. There are 14 genera and 90 species represented, the largest being the sarcastic fringehead, Neoclinus blanchardi, at 30 centimetres (12 in) in length; most are much smaller, and the group includes perhaps the smallest of all vertebrates, Acanthemblemaria paula, measuring just 1.3 centimetres (0.51 in) long as an adult. [more]

Chaetodontidae

The butterflyfish are a group of conspicuous tropical marine of the family Chaetodontidae; the bannerfish and coralfish are also included in this group. Found mostly on the reefs of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, there are approximately 120 species in 10 genera. A number of species pairs occur in Indian and Pacific ocean, members of the huge genus Chaetodon, and their taxonomy has often been confused by whether these should be considered species or subspecies. Recent work using DNA sequence data has resolved many of these questions. Also, numerous subgenera have been proposed for splitting out of Chaetodon, and it is becoming clear how the genus ought to be subdivided if that is desired. [more]

Champsodontidae

[more]

Chandidae

The Asiatic glassfishes are a , Ambassidae, of freshwater and marine fishes in the order Perciformes. The species in the family are native to the waters of Asia and Oceania and the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. The family includes eight genera and about fifty species. [more]

Channichthyidae

The crocodile icefishes or white-blooded fishes (Channichthyidae) are a of perciform fish found in the cold waters around Antarctica and southern South America. Fifteen species of crocodile icefish are known. They feed on krill, copepods, and other fish. [more]

Channidae

Channidae is a family of fish, commonly known as snakeheads, that is native to Africa and Asia. There are two extant genera, Channa in Asia, and Parachanna in Africa, consisting of 30-35 species.[citation needed] These predatory fishes are distinguished by a long dorsal fin, small head with large head scales on top, large mouth and teeth. They have a physiological need to breathe atmospheric air, which they do with a suprabranchial organ: a primitive form of a labyrinth organ. [more]

Cheilodactylidae

Morwongs are fishes comprising the family Cheilodactylidae. Found primarily throughout the Southern Hemisphere, they are also found in the Pacific off Japan, China, and Hawaii. Growing up to 1 metre in length, they feed on small invertebrates on the ocean floor. Several species of morwong are commercially harvested as food fish, particularly in Australia. [more]

Cheimarrhichthyidae

The torrent fish, Cheimarrichthys fosteri, is the only member of the genus Cheimarrichthys which in turn is the only member of the family Cheimarrichthyidae. It is found only in . It grows to a maximum length of 15 cm. [more]

Chiasmodontidae

Chiasmodontidae is a family of deep-sea fishes in the order . [more]

Chironemidae

The kelpfishes are a family of fishes, native to coastal Australia and New Zealand. [more]

Cichlidae

Cichlids are from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. The family Cichlidae, a major family of perciform fish, is both large and diverse. There are at least 1300 scientifically described species, making it one of the largest vertebrate families. Numerous new species are discovered annually, and many species remain undescribed. The actual number of species is therefore unclear, with estimates varying between 1300 and 3000 species, and one source suggesting 1900 species. Cichlids span a wide range of body sizes, from species as small as 2.5 centimetres (1.0 in) in length (e.g. female Neolamprologus multifasciatus ) to much larger species approaching 1 metre (3 ft) in length (e.g. Boulengerochromis and Cichla). As a group, cichlids exhibit a similarly wide diversity of body shapes, ranging from strongly laterally compressed species (such as Altolamprologus, Pterophyllum, and Symphysodon) through to species that are cylindrical and highly elongate (such as Julidochromis, Teleogramma, Teleocichla, Crenicichla, and Gobiocichla). Generally, however, cichlids tend to be of medium size, ovate in shape and slightly laterally compressed, and generally very similar to the North American sunfishes in terms of morphology, behaviour, and ecology. [more]

Cirrhitidae

Hawkfish are strictly tropical, marine fish of the family Cirrhitidae. Associated with the coral reefs of the western and eastern Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, the hawkfish family contains 12 genera and 32 species. They share many morphological features with the scorpionfish of the family Scorpaenidae. [more]

Clinidae

Clinids are ; perciform marine fish of the family Clinidae. Temperate blennies, the family ranges from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, in both the Southern and Northern Hemisphere. The family contains approximately 86 species in 20 genera, the 60 centimetre long giant kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus) being the largest; most are far smaller. [more]

Coiidae

[more]

Coryphaenidae

The Coryphaenidae, also called the dolphinfishes, are a family of marine fish belonging to the Order Perciformes. The family contains only one genus, Coryphaena, which contains two species, both of which have compressed heads and single dorsal fins that run the entire length of the fish's bodies. Dolphinfishes are unrelated to dolphins, which are mammals. [more]

Creediidae

The sandburrowers or simply burrowers are a family, Creediidae, of fishes in the order . [more]

Cryptacanthodidae

[more]

Dactyloscopidae

Sand stargazers are ; perciform marine fish of the odd family Dactyloscopidae. Found in temperate to tropical waters of North and South America; some may also inhabit brackish environments.. There are 44 species in nine genera represented, the giant sand stargazer (Dactylagnus mundus) being the largest at 15 centimetres in length; all other species are under 10 centimetres. [more]

Datnioididae

[more]

Dichistiidae

The galjoen fishes are a small family, Dichistiidae, of fishes. There are just two species in the family in the single genus Dichistius: [more]

Dinolestidae

The long-finned pike or yellowfin pike, Dinolestes lewini, is a species of fish, the only species in the genus Dinolestes and family Dinolestidae. [more]

Dinopercidae

[more]

Draconettidae

Draconettidae is a small family of fish in the order . They are found in temperate to tropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific Oceans. They are closely related to, and appear similar to, the fish of the Callionymidae. They are small fish, the largest species reaching 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long. Like the Callionymids, they are bottom-dwelling fish, and usually sexually dimorphic. [more]

Drepaneidae

The sicklefishes are fishes of the genus Drepane, the only genus in the family Drepaneidae. They are found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans, and in the eastern Atlantic near Africa. (The name "Drepanidae" has been used in the past, but a family of hook-tip moths has priority.) [more]

Drepanidae

The Drepanidae are a of moths with about 1000[verification needed] species recorded worldwide. They are generally divided in three subfamilies (Minet and Scoble, 1999) which share the same type of hearing organ. Thyatirinae, previously often placed in their own family, bear a superficial resemblance to Noctuidae. Many species in this group have a distinctively hook-shaped apex to the forewing, leading to their common name of hook-tips. [more]

Echeneidae

Remoras or suckerfish are elongated brown in order Perciformes and family Echeneidae. They grow to 30–90 centimetres long (1–3 ft), and their distinctive first dorsal fin takes the form of a modified oval sucker-like organ with slat-like structures that open and close to create suction and take a look firm hold against the skin of larger marine animals. By sliding backward, the remora can increase the suction, or it can release itself by swimming forward. Remoras sometimes attach to small boats. They swim well on their own, with a sinuous motion. [more]

Echeneididae

[more]

Elassomatidae

Elassoma is a of freshwater fish, the only member of family Elassomatidae and suborder Elassomatoidei of order Perciformes. The type species is E. zonatum, the banded pygmy sunfish. The Elassomatidae are known collectively as pygmy sunfishes, but are not true sunfishes, which are members of family Centrarchidae. Some researchers believe they are related to sticklebacks and pipefishes (order Syngnathiformes) rather than Perciformes. [more]

Eleginopidae

[more]

Eleotridae

Sleeper gobies are members of the Eleotridae family, found predominantly in the tropical Indo-Pacific. There are approximately 35 genera and 150 species. While many eleotrids pass through a planktonic stage in the sea and some spend their entire lives in the sea, as adults the majority live in freshwater streams and brackish waters. They are especially important as predators in the freshwater stream ecosystems on oceanic islands such as New Zealand and Hawai'i that otherwise lack the predatory fish families typical of nearby continents, such as catfish. Anatomically they are similar to the gobies (Gobiidae), though unlike the majority of gobies, they do not have a pelvic sucker. [more]

Eleotrididae

[more]

Embiotocidae

The surfperches are a family, Embiotocidae, of fishes. They are found in coastal waters of the northern Pacific and grow up to 45 cm (17.7 inches) long. [more]

Emmelichthyidae

Rovers are a of small to medium sized marine fish. The family was once much larger, including a wide range of plankton-eating fish, but most of the genera were discovered to be unrelated examples of parallel evolution, and were moved to other families. [more]

Enoplosidae

Enoplosus armatus is a species of fish, the only species in the family Enoplosidae. [more]

Ephippidae

Ephippidae is the fish family containing the spadefishes. There are about eight genera with a total of 20 species, mostly marine. The most well-known species are probably those in the genus Platax, the batfishes, which are kept as aquarium fish. They are spade-shaped, laterally compressed, and very symmetrical triangular dorsal and anal fins. They are shiny silver with areas of yellow and vertical brown or black banding. The eyes are often located in one of the vertical bands as a method of camouflage. Scuba divers sometimes mistake them for angelfish, which are similar in shape but not closely related. Other genera in the family are characterized by long, trailing, pointed dorsal and anal fins. Most species feed primarily on algae and small invertebrates. [more]

Ephippididae

[more]

Epigonidae

Deepwater cardinalfishes are fishes in the family Epigonidae. [more]

Gempylidae

Gempylidae is a family of fishes, commonly known as snake mackerels or escolars. [more]

Gerreidae

The mojarras are a family, Gerreidae, of fishes in the order . [more]

Girellidae

[more]

Glaucosomatidae

[more]

Gobiidae

The gobies form the Gobiidae, which is one of the largest families of fish, with more than 2,000 species in more than 200 genera. Most are relatively small, typically less than 10 cm (4 in) in length. Gobies include some of the smallest vertebrates in the world, like species of the genera Trimmaton and Pandaka, which are under 1 cm (3/8 in) long when fully grown. There are some large gobies, such as some species of the genera Gobioides or Periophthalmodon, that can reach over 30 cm (1 ft) in length, but that is exceptional. Although few are important as food for humans, they are of great significance as prey species for commercially important fish like cod, haddock, sea bass, and flatfish. Several gobies are also of interest as aquarium fish, such as the bumblebee gobies of the genus Brachygobius. [more]

Grammatidae

The basslets are a small family, Grammatidae, of fishes in the order . The twelve members (in two genera) are all small fish of the western Atlantic, typically no more than 10 cm in length. Several species are colorful and popular for marine aquaria. They can also change their gender. [more]

Haemulidae

The grunts are a family, Haemulidae, of fishes in the order . They are numerous and widespread, with about 150 species in 19 genera, found in tropical fresh, brackish and salt waters around the world. They are bottom-feeding predators, and named for their ability to produce sound by grinding their teeth. [more]

Harpagiferidae

[more]

Helostomatidae

Kissing gouramis, also known as kissers (Helostoma temminckii), are large tropical fish comprising the monotypic labyrinth fish family Helostomatidae (from the Greek elos [stud, nail], stoma [mouth]). These fish originate from Thailand to Indonesia. They are highly commercial food fish which are farmed in their native Southeast Asia. They are used fresh for steaming, baking, broiling, and pan frying. [more]

Howellidae

[more]

Icosteidae

The ragfish, Icosteus aenigmaticus (, 1880), is an odd ray-finned fish of the northern Pacific Ocean; although a perciform, its skeleton is mostly cartilage, and the larvae have pelvic fins that disappear as they mature. It is the sole member of the family Icosteidae, and some authorities place it into its own order Icosteiformes. [more]

Inermiidae

The Bonnetmouths (Inermiidae) are a very small family of fishes in the order with only two known species in two genera, the bonnetmouth and the boga. [more]

Istiophoridae

Marlin, Istiophoridae, is a member of a group of marine known as "billfish", and is closely linked to the freshwater trout. A marlin has an elongated body, a spear-like snout, and a long rigid dorsal fin, which extends forwards to form a crest. Its common name is thought to derive from its notional resemblance to a sailor's marlinspike. Even more so than their close relatives the scombrids, marlin are known to be incredibly fast swimmers, reaching speeds of about 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph). [more]

Kraemeriidae

Sand gobies or sandfishes, family Kraemeriidae, are a small family of fishes in the order . Sand Gobies live in sandy shallow pools. They are found among coral.In breeding coloration the male fish has a occelated spot at the rear of the first dorsal fin. [more]

Kuhliidae

The flagtails or aholeholes are a (Kuhliidae) of perciform fish of the Indo-Pacific area. The family consists of thirteen species in one genus, Kuhlia, of which, one, (K. rupestris), is freshwater. The others are marine. [more]

Kurtidae

The nurseryfishes or forehead brooders are a family (Kurtidae) of that are notable for carrying their egg clusters on hooks protruding from the forehead (supraoccipital) of the males. The family consists of just two species in the single genus Kurtus. [more]

Kushlukiidae

[more]

Kyphosidae

The sea chubs are a family, Kyphosidae, of fishes in the order . [more]

Labracoglossidae

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Labridae

The wrasses are a , Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly colored. The family is large and diverse, with about 500 species in 60 genera. [more]

Labrisomidae

Labrisomids are small , perciform marine fish belonging to the family Labrisomidae. Found mostly in the tropical Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, the family contains approximately 98 species in 14 genera. [more]

Lactariidae

[more]

Lateolabracidae

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Latidae

The Latidae are a family of perch-like fishes found in and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The family, previously classified subfamily Latinae in family Centropomidae, was raised to family status in 2004 after a cladistic analysis showed the original Centropomidae was paraphyletic. [more]

Latridae

Trumpeters are a family of fishes, Latridae. They are found in southern waters off Australia, New Zealand, and Chile, where they are fished commercially and for sport. [more]

Leiognathidae

The ponyfishes also known as slipmouths or slimys are a small family, Leiognathidae, of fishes in the order . They inhabit marine and brackish waters in the Indian Ocean and West Pacific. [more]

Leptobramidae

[more]

Leptoscopidae

The southern sandfishes are a family, Leptoscopidae, of fishes in the order . [more]

Lethrinidae

The emperor breams or simply emperors also known as pigface breams are a family, Lethrinidae, of fishes in the order . [more]

Lobotidae

Tripletails are fishes in the genus Lobotes, the only genus in the family Lobotidae. [more]

Lutianidae

[more]

Lutjanidae

Snappers are a family of fish, mainly marine but with some members living in estuaries, and entering fresh water to feed. Some are important food fish. One of the best known is the red snapper. [more]

Luvaridae

The louvar or luvar, Luvarus imperialis, is a species of fish, the only extant species in the genus Luvarus and family Luvaridae. Other species and genera are only known from fossils dating back to the Paleogene. It is closely related to the surgeonfish. The juvenile form has a pair of spines near the base of the tail, like the surgeonfish, though they are lost in the adult. [more]

Malacanthidae

Tilefishes, also known as blanquillo, are mostly small marine fish comprising the family Malacanthidae. [more]

Menidae

The moonfish of the genus Mene ("Crescent"), the sole extant genus of the family Menidae are disk-shaped fish which bear a vague resemblance to , thanks to their thread-like pelvic fins. Today, the genus is represented only by Mene maculata of the Indo-Pacific, where it is a popular food fish, especially in the Philippines, where it is known as "bilong-bilong". [more]

Microdesmidae

Wormfishes are a , Microdesmidae, of goby-like fishes in the order Perciformes. [more]

Monodactylidae

The Monodactylidae is a family of within the Perciformes commonly referred to as monos, moonyfishes or fingerfishes. All are strongly laterally compressed with an approximately disc-shaped body and tall anal and dorsal fins. Unusually for fish, there are scales on the dorsal fin and sometimes on the anal fin as well. The pelvic fins are small, sometimes vestigial. They are of moderate size, typically around 25 cm in length, and Monodactylus sebae can be taller than it is long, measuring up to 30 cm from the tip of the dorsal fin down to the tip of the anal fin. It is these long, scaly fins that has given them the name of fingerfishes. Most are silvery with yellow and black markings; the juveniles are especially attractive and most species are popular as aquarium fish (see below). [more]

Moronidae

Moronidae, also known as the "temperate basses", is a family of fish consisting of 6 freshwater and marine species. Similar to Acropomatidae, Moronidae fish are most commonly found near the coastal regions of eastern North America and Europe. [more]

Mugilidae

The mullets or grey mullets are a (Mugilidae) of ray-finned fish found worldwide in coastal temperate and tropical waters, and in some species in fresh water also. Mullets have served as an important source of food in Mediterranean Europe since Roman times. The family includes about 80 species in 17 genera. [more]

Mullidae

Goatfishes are tropical marine fish of the family Mullidae. Seldom found in brackish waters, goatfish are most associated with the reefs of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. The goatfish are sometimes called the red mullets as opposed to the Mugilidae, the grey mullets, though that name is usually reserved for the red mullets of the genus Mullus of the Mediterranean. Within the family are approximately six genera and 55 species. [more]

Nandidae

Asian leaffishes are small freshwater fishes of the Nandidae , from Southern Asia. There are only four genera in this group. [more]

Nardoichthyidae

[more]

Nematistiidae

The roosterfish, Nematistius pectoralis, is a game fish common in the marine waters surrounding , Costa Rica, and Panama, and in the eastern Pacific, from California to Peru. It is the only fish in the genus Nematistius and the family Nematistiidae. It is distinguished by its "rooster comb", seven very long spines of the dorsal fin. [more]

Nemipteridae

The threadfin breams are a family, Nemipteridae, of fishes in the order . They are also known as whiptail breams and false snappers. [more]

Nomeidae

Driftfishes are fishes in the family Nomeidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the world. [more]

Notograptidae

[more]

Nototheniidae

The cod icefishes or nothothens are the Nototheniidae of acanthopterygian fishes, containing about 50 species in 13 genera. They are traditionally placed in the perciform assemblage together with their relatives, but like every lineage in the "Perciformes" their actual relationships are not yet determined with certainty. [more]

Odacidae

Odacidae is a small family of fishes in the order , commonly known as butterfish, cales, and weed-whitings. They are related to the much larger families of the wrasses and parrotfish. [more]

Odontobutidae

Odontobutidae is a small family of fishes in the order . They are native to fresh water rivers flowing into the South China Sea and the northwestern Pacific Ocean [more]

Opisthognathidae

[more]

Opistognathidae

Opistognathidae (opisto = "behind", gnath = "mouth"), commonly referred to as jawfishes, are classified within Order , Suborder Percoidei. They are found throughout shallow reef areas of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and the Gulf of Mexico. [more]

Oplegnathidae

Oplegnathidae is a family of marine within the Perciformes commonly known as knifejaws; some species are known as beakfish. It contains a single genus, Oplegnathus. The largest, the Cape knifejaw, can reach a maximum length of about 90 cm (35 in). Knifejaws have teeth fused into a parrotlike beak in adulthood. They feed on barnacles and mollusks, and are fished commercially. They are found in the north-western Pacific Ocean (e.g. Japan), in the southern half of Australia, in the Galapagos, Peru, and Chile, and in Southern Africa. [more]

Osphronemidae

The gourami or gouramis are a , Osphronemidae, of freshwater perciform fishes. The fish are native to Asia, from Pakistan and India to the Malay Archipelago and north-easterly towards Korea. "Gouramis" is an example of a redundant plural. Gourami is already plural, in its original language. [more]

Ostracoberycidae

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Palaeorhynchidae

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Parascorpididae

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Pempheridae

Sweepers are small, tropical marine (occasionally ) perciform fish of the family Pempheridae. Found in the western Atlantic Ocean and Indo-Pacific region, the family contains approximately 26 species in two genera. One species (Pempheris xanthoptera ) is the target of subsistence fisheries in Japan, where the fish is much enjoyed for its taste. Sweepers are occasionally kept in the marine aquarium. [more]

Pempherididae

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Pentacerotidae

The Armorheads are a small family, Pentacerotidae, of fishes in the order . They are native to the Indo-Pacific and southwestern Atlantic. [more]

Percichthyidae

The members of Percichthyidae family are known as the temperate perches. They belong to the Order or perch-like fishes. [more]

Percidae

The Percidae are a family of fish found in fresh and brackish waters of the Northern Hemisphere. The family contains about 200 species in ten genera. The darters, perches, and their relatives are in this family: well-known species include the walleye, ruffe, and three species of perch. [more]

Perciliidae

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Percophidae

Duckbills are a family, Percophidae, of fishes. [more]

Pholidae

The gunnels are a family, Pholidae, of fishes in the order . [more]

Pholidichthyidae

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Pinguipedidae

The sandperches are a family, Pinguipedidae, of fishes in the order . [more]

Plesiopidae

The longfins also known as roundheads or spiny basslets are a family, Plesiopidae, of fishes in the order . They are elongated fishes, found in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. [more]

Polycentridae

Leaffishes are small freshwater fishes of the Polycentridae , from South America. [more]

Polynemidae

Threadfins are silvery grey marine fish of the family Polynemidae. Found in tropical to subtropical waters throughout the world, the threadfin family contains nine genera and 33 species. An unrelated species sometimes known by the name threadfin, Alectis indicus, is properly known as the Indian threadfish (family Carangidae). [more]

Polyprionidae

The wreckfishes are a family, Polyprionidae, of fishes. [more]

Pomacanthidae

Marine angelfish are fish of the family Pomacanthidae. They are found on shallow reefs in the tropical Atlantic, Indian, and mostly western Pacific oceans. The family contains seven genera and approximately 86 species. They should not be confused with the freshwater angelfish, tropical cichlids of the Amazon River basin. [more]

Pomacentridae

Pomacentridae is a family of fish, comprising the damselfishes and clownfishes. They are exclusively marine (rarely brackish), and noted for their hardy constitutions and territoriality. Many are brightly colored, so they are popular in aquaria. [more]

Pomadasyidae

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Pomatomidae

The bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix ), called tailor in , is a species of popular marine game-fish found in all climates. It is the sole species of the Pomatomidae family. [more]

Priacanthidae

Priacanthidae is a of fish, common name bigeye, comprising 18 species of marine fishes. "Catalufa" is an alternate common name for some members of the priacanthidae family. The etymology of the scientific name ("prioo-", to bite + "akantha", thorn) refers to the family's very rough, spined scales. The common name of "bigeye" refers to the member species' unusually large eyes, suited to their carnivorous and nocturnal lifestyles. Priacanthidae are most typically colored bright red, but other coloration patterns do exist for some species. Most species reach a maximum total length of about 30 centimeters (12 inches), although in a few species lengths of over 50 centimeters (20 inches) are known. [more]

Pseudaphritidae

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Pseudochromidae

The dottybacks are a family, Pseudochromidae, of fishes in the order . Around 100 species belong to this family. [more]

Ptereleotridae

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Ptilichthyidae

The quillfish, Ptilichthys goodei, is a species of fish, the only species in the genus Ptilichthys and family Ptilichthyidae. It is an elongate eel-like fish that reaches 34 cm in length. It is native to the north Pacific Ocean, from the Bering Sea down to Oregon. [more]

Rachycentridae

Cobia (Rachycentron canadum)—also known as black kingfish, black salmon, ling, lemonfish, crabeaters, aruan tasek, etc.—are marine fish, the sole representative of their family, the Rachycentridae. [more]

Repropcidae

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Rhyacichthyidae

The Loach Goby, Rhyacichthys aspro, is a , the only member of the family Rhyacichthyidae. [more]

Scaridae

Parrotfish are mostly tropical, marine fish of the family Scaridae. Abundant on shallow reefs of the Red Sea, Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, the parrotfish family contains ten genera and about 90 species. [more]

Scatophagidae

The scats are a small family, Scatophagidae, of fishes in the order . [more]

Schindleriidae

Schindleria, is a of marine fish. It is the only genus of family Schindleriidae, among the Gobioidei of order Perciformes. The type species is S. praematura, Schindler's fish. The Schindleria species are known generically as Schindler's fishes or infantfishes. They are native to the southern Pacific Ocean, from the South China Sea to the Great Barrier Reef off eastern Australia. [more]

Sciaenidae

Sciaenidae is a of fish commonly called drums, croakers, or hardheads for the repetitive throbbing or drumming sounds they make. The family includes the weakfish, and consists of about 275 species in about 70 genera; it belongs to the order Perciformes. [more]

Scombridae

Scombridae is the of the mackerels, tunas, and bonitos, and thus includes many of the most important and familiar food fishes. The family consists of about 55 species in 15 genera and two subfamilies. All species are Scombrinae, except Butterfly kingfish - which is the sole member of subfamily Gasterochismatinae. [more]

Scombrolabracidae

The longfin escolar, Scombrolabrax heterolepis, also known as the black mackerel, is a widespread but uncommon deep sea that presents some difficulties for taxonomy. [more]

Scombropidae

The gnomefishes are a small Scombropidae of marine fish, consisting of three species in the genus Scombrops. [more]

Scytalinidae

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Serranidae

Serranidae is a large of fishes, belonging to the order Perciformes. The family contains about 450 species of serranids in 64 genera, including the sea basses and the groupers (subfamily Epinephelinae). They range in size from the belted sandfish (Serranus subligarius) which grows to 110 mm (4.33 in) up to the itajara (Epinephelus itajara) which grows to 2.4 m (94.5 in) and weighs up to 300 kg (660 lb). [more]

Siganidae

Rabbitfishes or spinefoots are fishes in the family Siganidae. There are 28 species in a single genus, Siganus. In some classifications, the species with prominent face stripes – colloquially called foxfaces – are separated in the genus Lo. But this is now known to be erroneous; indeed some other species like the Masked Spinefoot (S. puellus) show a reduced form of the stripe pattern. Rabbitfishes are found in shallow lagoons in the Indo-Pacific and eastern Mediterranean. [more]

Sillaginidae

The Sillaginidae, commonly known as the smelt-whitings, whitings, sillaginids, sand borers and sand-smelts, are a of benthic coastal marine fishes in the order Perciformes. The smelt-whitings inhabit a wide region covering much of the Indo-Pacific, from the west coast of Africa east to Japan and south to Australia. The family comprises only three genera and thirty one species, of which a number are dubious, with the last major revision of the family in 1992 unable to confirm the validity of a number of species. They are elongate, slightly compressed fish often light brown to silver in color with a variety of markings and patterns on their upper body. The Sillaginidae are not related to a number of fishes commonly called 'whiting' in the Northern Hemisphere, including the fish originally called whiting, Merlangius merlangus. [more]

Sparidae

The Sparidae is a family of , included in the order Perciformes. The fish of the family are commonly called breams and porgies (North America). The sheepshead, scup, and red sea bream are species in this family. They live in shallow temperate waters and are bottom-dwelling carnivores. Most species possess grinding, molar-like teeth. [more]

Sphyraenidae

The barracuda is a known for its large size (up to 6 feet (1.8 m) in length and up to 1 foot (30 cm) in width, for some species) and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scales. It is a salt water fish, and is found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. It is of the genus Sphyraena, the only genus in the family Sphyraenidae. [more]

Stichaeidae

The pricklebacks also known as shannies are a family, Stichaeidae, of fishes in the order . [more]

Stromateidae

The family Stromateidae of butterfishes contains 17 species of fish in 3 genera. Butterfishes live in coastal waters off the Americas, western Africa and in the Indo-Pacific. [more]

Symphysanodontidae

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Teraponidae

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Terapontidae

Grunters or tigerperches are fishes in the family Terapontidae (also spelled Teraponidae, Theraponidae or Therapontidae). They are found in shallow coastal waters in the and western Pacific, where they live in saltwater, brackish and freshwater habitats. They grow up to 80 cm in length and feed on fishes, insects and other invertebrates. [more]

Tetragonuridae

The squaretails are a genus, Tetragonurus, of fishes, the only genus in the family Tetragonuridae. [more]

Toxotidae

The archerfish (or archer fish) are a (Toxotidae) of fish known for their habit of preying on land based insects and other small animals by literally shooting them down with water droplets from their specialized mouths. A large lower jaw helps these fish to hunt. The family is a small one, consisting of seven species in the genus Toxotes; all occur in fresh, brackish, and marine deep pool like waters from India to the Philippines, Australia, and Polynesia. It reproduces by the male putting its sperm in the female and the female lays eggs which hatch in 5 months. [more]

Trachinidae

Weevers (or Weaverfish) are eight species of of family Trachinidae, order Perciformes. They are long (up to 37 cm), mainly brown and have poisonous spines on their first dorsal fin and gills. During the day, weevers bury themselves in sand, just showing their eyes, and snatch prey as it comes past, which consists of shrimps and small fish. Weevers are unusual in not having a swim bladder as do most bony fishes and as a result sink as soon as they stop actively swimming. [more]

Trichiuridae

The cutlassfishes are about 40 species of predatory fish in the family Trichiuridae (order ) found in seas throughout the world. Fish of this family are long, slender, and generally steely blue or silver in color, giving rise to their name. They have reduced or absent pelvic and caudal fins, giving them an eel-like appearance, and large fang-like teeth. [more]

Trichodontidae

The beaked salmon (also beaked sandfish) are a type of long thin ray-finned fish that live on sandy bottoms near shorelines. The approximately five known species are all in the single genus Gonorynchus (sometimes spelled Gonorhynchus) of the family Gonorynchidae (sometimes spelled Gonorhynchidae). All have a distinctive angular snout (hence the name) that the fish use to dig themselves into the sand. [more]

Trichonotidae

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Tripterygiidae

Threefin or triplefin blennies are , small perciform marine fish of the family Tripterygiidae. Found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, the family contains approximately 150 species in 30 genera. The family name derives from the Greek tripteros meaning "with three wings". [more]

Uranoscopidae

The stargazers are a Uranoscopidae of perciform fish that have eyes on top of their heads (thus the name). The family includes about 50 species in 8 genera, all marine and found worldwide in shallow waters. [more]

Xenisthmidae

Wrigglers are fishes in the family Xenisthmidae. They are native to the Indian and Pacific oceans, where they are mostly reef-dwelling. [more]

Xiphiidae

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius), also known as Broadbill in some countries, are large, highly migratory, predatory characterized by a long, flat bill. They are a popular sport fish, though elusive. Swordfish are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood. They reach a maximum size of 177 in. (455 cm) and 1,400 lb (650 kg). The International Game Fish Association's all-tackle angling record for a swordfish was a 1,182 lb (536.15 kg) specimen taken off Chile in 1953. [more]

Zanclidae

The moorish idol, Zanclus cornutus ("Crowned Scythe"), is a small marine fish, the sole representative of the family Zanclidae (from the Greek zagkios, "oblique"). A common inhabitant of tropical to subtropical reefs and lagoons, the moorish idol is notable for its wide distribution throughout the Indo-Pacific. A number of butterflyfishes (all of the genus Heniochus) closely resemble the moorish idol. [more]

Zaproridae

Prowfish (Zaprora silenus) are subtropical marine fish found in the North Pacific. They are the only member of their family, Zaproridae. They should not be confused with the Australian prowfish of the unrelated family Pataecidae. [more]

Zoarcidae

The eelpouts are the family Zoarcidae. As the common name suggests, they are somewhat eel-like in appearance, with elongate bodies, and the dorsal and anal fins continuous with the caudal fin. All of the approximately 220 species are marine, mostly bottom-dwelling, some at great depths. They are sometimes called "fish doctors" (not to be confused with the doctorfish or surgeon fishes). [more]

At least 388 species and subspecies belong to the Family Zoarcidae.

More info about the Family Zoarcidae may be found here.

References

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Sources

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Last Revised: September 22, 2009
2009/09/22 08:09:06