Stomiiformes

Stomiiformes
Temporal range: Cenomanian–present
Astronesthes similus (Phosichthyoidei: Stomiidae)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Superorder: Osmeromorpha
Order: Stomiiformes
Regan, 1909
Type species
Stomias boa boa
(A. Risso, 1810)
Suborders

Stomioidei
Phosichthyoidei

Synonyms

Gonostomatiformes

Stomiiformes /ˈstɒmi.ɪfɔːrmiːz/ is an order of deep-sea ray-finned fishes of very diverse morphology. It includes, for example, dragonfishes, lightfishes (Gonostomatidae and Phosichthyidae), loosejaws, marine hatchetfishes and viperfishes. The order contains 4 families (5 according to some authors) with more than 50 genera and at least 410 species. As usual for deep-sea fishes, there are few common names for species of the order, but the Stomiiformes as a whole are often called dragonfishes and allies or simply stomiiforms.[1]

The scientific name means "Stomias-shaped", from Stomias (the type genus) + the standard fish order suffix "-formes". It ultimately derives from Ancient Greek stóma (στόμᾶ, "mouth") + Latin forma ("external form"), the former in reference to the huge mouth opening of these fishes.[2]

The earliest stomiiform is Paravinciguerria from the Cenomanian of Morocco and Italy.[3]

  1. ^ Nelson (2006): pp.207-208
  2. ^ Woodhouse (1910), Glare (1968-1982), FishBase (2005)
  3. ^ Carnevale, G.; Rindone, A. (2011). "The teleost fish Paravinciguerria praecursor Arambourg, 1954 in the Cenomanian of north-eastern Sicily". Bollettino della Societa Paleontologica Italiana. S2CID 134027525.