updated/revised 18 Dec. 2024 (see Revision History)
5,287 genera
332 subgenera
37,135 species
480 subspecies
43,234 TOTAL FISH NAME ETYMOLOGIES
The ETYFish Project provides name etymologies for every valid genus and species of Recent fish and fish-like vertebrate (plus select subgenera and subspecies in use by some ichthyologists). Names of new taxa and revalidated older names are continually being added.
At present, The ETYFish Project is undergoing a top-to-bottom revision. Each entry is being checked for accuracy and being revised to include more robust etymologies of Latin and Greek words. Plus, newly revised etymologies are easily searched via a database.
This Table of Contents is divided into two parts. Part 1 links to HTML pages of newly revised etymologies; each page has a PDF option with illustrations and in many cases additional information not included in the HTML page. Part 2 comprises links to legacy HTML pages (with PDF options). Revisions will proceed in the phylogenetic sequence as shown below. Over time, Part 1 will get longer and Part 2 will get shorter until all entries have been reviewed and revised.
PART ONE (revised etymologies)
Class MYXINI
Order MYXINIFORMES
Family MYXINIDAE Hagfishes 6 genera • 90 species
Subfamily RUBICUNDINAE Reddish Hagfishes
Subfamily EPTATRETINAE Multi-gill Hagfishes
Subfamily MYXININAE Hagfishes
Class PETROMYZONTIDA
Order PETROMYZONTIFORMES 3 families • 11 genera/subgenera • 48 species
Family PETROMYZONTIDAE Northern Lampreys 9 genera/subgenera • 43 species
Subfamily PETROMYZONTINAE
Subfamily LAMPRETINAE
Family GEOTRIIDAE Southern (Pouched) Lampreys 1 genus • 2 species
Family MORDACIIDAE Southern Topeyed Lampreys 1 genus • 3 species
Class CHONDRICHTHYES Cartilaginous Fishes
chóndros (Gr. χόνδρος), gristle or cartilage; ichthýs (Gr. ἰχθύς), fish, i.e., fishes (chimaeras, sharks, skates, rays) with cartilaginous skeleton
Subclass HOLOCEPHALI
hólos (Gr. ὅλος), whole or entire; cephali, from kephalḗ (Gr. κεφαλή), head, referring to fusion of upper jaws (palatoquadrates) to skull in all Recent species and in many but not all fossils
Order CHIMAERIFORMES Chimaeras 3 families · 6 genera · 59 species
Family CALLORHINCHIDAE Plownose Chimaeras 1 genus • 3 species
Family CHIMAERIDAE Shortnose Chimaeras or Ratfishes 2 genera • 47 species
Family RHINOCHIMAERIDAE Longnose Chimaeras 3 genera • 9 species
Class CHONDRICHTHYES Subclass ELASMOBRANCHII
élasma (Gr. έλασμα), metal plate; bránchia (Gr. βράγχια), gills, referring to plate-like interbranchial septa (i.e., tissue layer separating two halves of gill)
Infraclass EUSELACHII
eu– (Gr.), good, well or very; selachos (Gr.), a cartilaginous fish, including all elasmobranchs that have an anal fin (secondarily lost in many Recent forms) and two dorsal fins each with an anterior, cylindroconical spine of enameloid and dentine supported by the fin skeleton (spines lost in most living neoselachians; the first dorsal fin is absent in a few living sharks, and one or both dorsals are absent in many rays)
Division NEOSELACHII
neo-, from neos (Gr.), new or modern; selachos (Gr.), a cartilaginous fish, including all Recent sharks and rays and certain Mesozoic sharks, including palaeospinacids (Palaeospinax and Synechodus) and possibly orthacodonts and anacoracids
Subdivision SELACHII (“The Sharks”)
selachos (Gr.), a cartilaginous fish, comprising the sharks
9 orders • 38 families • 109 genera/subgenera • 562 species/subspecies
Order HETERODONTIFORMES
Family HETERODONTIDAE Bullhead Sharks 1 genus • 10 species
Order ORECTOLOBIFORMES Carpet Sharks 7 families • 13 genera • 45 species
Family PARASCYLLIIDAE Collared Carpet Sharks 2 genera • 8 species
Family BRACHAELURIDAE Blind Sharks 1 genus • 2 species
Family ORECTOLOBIDAE Wobbegongs 3 genera • 12 species
Family HEMISCYLLIIDAE Bamboo Sharks 2 genera • 17 species
Family STEGOSTOMATIDAE Zebra Shark monotypic
Family GINGLYMOSTOMATIDAE Nurse Sharks 3 genera • 4 species
Family RHINCODONTIDAE Whale Shark monotypic
Order LAMNIFORMES Mackerel Sharks 8 families • 10 genera • 16 species
Family CARCHARHIIDAE Sand Tiger Sharks 1 genus • 2 species
Family ODONTASPIDIDAE Ragged Tooth Sharks 1 genus • 2 species
Family MITSUKURINIDAE Goblin Shark monotypic
Family PSEUDOCARCHARIIDAE Crocodile Shark monotypic
Family MEGACHASMIDAE Megamouth Shark monotypic
Family ALOPIIDAE Thresher Sharks 1 genus • 3 species
Family CETORHINIDAE Basking Shark monotypic
Family LAMNIDAE Mackerel Sharks 3 genera • 5 species
Order CARCHARHINIFORMES Ground Sharks 11 families • 54 genera/subgenera • 305 species/subspecies
Suborder SCYLIORHINOIDEI
Family SCYLIORHINIDAE Catsharks 3 genera • 37 species
Suborder CARCHARHINOIDEI
Family ATELOMYCTERIDAE Colored Catsharks 3 genera • 13 species
Subfamily ATELOMYCTERINAE
Subfamily SCHROEDERICHTHYINAE
Family PENTANCHIDAE Deepwater Catsharks 12 genera • 111 species
Family DICHICHTHYIDAE Bristle Sharks 1 genus • 5 species
Family PROSCYLLIIDAE Finback Catsharks 3 genera • 6 species
Family PSEUDOTRIAKIDAE False Catsharks 3 genera • 5 species
Family LEPTOCHARIIDAE Barbled Hound Shark monotypic
Family TRIAKIDAE Hound Sharks 9 genera • 47 species/subspecies
Subfamily TRIAKINAE Hound Sharks
Subfamily GALEORHININAE School Sharks
Family HEMIGALEIDAE Weasel Sharks 4 genera • 8 species
Family GALEOCERDONIDAE Tiger Shark monotypic
Family CARCHARHINIDAE Requiem Sharks 10 genera • 59 species
Family SPHYRNIDAE Hammerhead Sharks 4 genera/subgenera • 12 species
Order HEXANCHIFORMES 2 families • 4 genera • 7 species
Family CHLAMYDOSELACHIDAE Frilled Sharks 1 genus • 2 species
Family HEXANCHIDAE Cow Sharks 3 genera • 5 species
Order ECHINORHINIFORMES
Family ECHINORHINIDAE Bramble Sharks 1 genus • 2 species
Order SQUALIFORMES Dogfish Sharks 6 families • 23 genera/subgenera • 143 species/subspecies
Family CENTROPHORIDAE Gulper Sharks 2 genera • 16 species
Family ETMOPTERIDAE Lantern Sharks 4 genera • 52 species
Family SOMNIOSIDAE Sleeper Sharks 7 genera/subgenera • 17 species
Family OXYNOTIDAE Rough Sharks 1 genus • 5 species
Family DALATIIDAE Kitefin Sharks 7 genera • 10 species
Family SQUALIDAE Dogfish Sharks 2 genera • 43 species/subspecies
Order SQUATINIFORMES
Family SQUATINIDAE Angel Sharks 1 genus • 24 species
Order PRISTIOPHORIFORMES
Family PRISTIOPHORIDAE Saw Sharks 2 genera • 10 species
Division NEOSELACHII Subdivision BATOIDES (“The Rays”)
-oides, Neo-Latin from eī́dos (Gr. εἶδος), form or shape: batís (Gr. βατίς), a flat fish, usually applied to a skate or ray
4 orders • 26 families • 104 genera/subgenera • 685 species/subspecies
Order TORPEDINIFORMES Electric Rays 5 families • 15 genera • 66 species
Family PLATYRHINIDAE Thornbacks or Fanrays 2 genera • 5 species
Family TORPEDINIDAE Electric Rays 2 genera • 20 species
Family HYPNIDAE Coffin Ray monotypic
Family NARCINIDAE Numbfishes 5 genera • 31 species
Family NARKIDAE Sleeper Rays 5 genera • 9 species
Order RHINOPRISTIFORMES 5 families • 12 genera • 71 species
Family TRYGONORRHINIDAE Fiddler Rays or Banjo Rays 3 genera • 8 species
Family RHINOBATIDAE Guitarfishes 3 genera • 37 species
Family RHINIDAE Wedgefishes or Bowmouth Guitarfishes 3 genera • 11 species
Family GLAUCOSTEGIDAE Giant Guitarfishes 1 genus • 10 species
Family PRISTIDAE Sawfishes 2 genera • 5 species
Order RAJIFORMES Skates 4 families • 40 genera/subgenera • 305 species/subspecies)
Family ARHYNCHOBATIDAE Softnose Skates or Longtail Skates 14 genera • 110 species
Family GURGESIELLIDAE Leg Skates or Pygmy Skates 3 genera • 19 species
Family RAJIDAE Skates 18 genera • 162 species/subspecies
Family ANACANTHOBATIDAE Smooth Skates 5 genera • 14 species
Order MYLIOBATIFORMES Stingrays 12 families • 38 genera • 243 species
Family ZANOBATIDAE Panrays 1 genus • 2 species
Family PLESIOBATIDAE Deepwater Stingray or Giant Stingaree monotypic
Family UROLOPHIDAE Round Stingrays or Stingarees 3 genera • 28 species
Family HEXATRYGONIDAE Sixgill Stingray monotypic
Family DASYATIDAE Stingrays 19 genera • 98 species
Subfamily DASYATINAE Stingrays
Subfamily NEOTRYGONINAE Shortsnout Stingrays
Subfamily UROGYMNINAE Whiprays
Subfamily HYPOLOPHINAE Cowtail Stingrays
Family POTAMOTRYGONIDAE Neotropical Stingrays 5 genera • 40 species
Subfamily STYRACURINAE Whiptail Stingrays
Subfamily POTAMOTRYGONINAE River Stingrays
Family GYMNURIDAE Butterfly Rays 1 genus • 14 species
Family UROTRYGONIDAE American Round Stingrays or Round Rays 2 genera • 18 species
Family AETOBATIDAE Pelagic Eagle Rays 1 genus • 5 species
Family MYLIOBATIDAE Eagle Rays 2 genera • 19 species
Family RHINOPTERIDAE Cownose Rays 1 genus • 8 species
Family MOBULIDAE Devil Rays 1 genus • 9 species
Megaclass OSTEICHTHYES Bony Fishes and Tetrapods
osteo– (Gr.), bone; ichthyes (Gr.), fishes, i.e., fishes (and their tetrapod relatives) with skeletons (at least in part) made from bone
Superclass SARCOPTERYGII Lobe-finned Fishes and Tetrapods
sarco- (Gr.), flesh; pteron (Gr.), fin or wing, fishes with fleshy, lobed fins (a clade that now includes all four-limbed vertebrates), as opposed to the ray-finned fishes that characterize Superclass Actinopterygii
Class COELACANTHIMORPHA
morpha, from morpho (Gr.), form or shape, i.e., having the form of a coelacanth
Order COELACANTHIFORMES
Family LATIMERIIDAE Coelacanths 1 genus • 2 species
Superclass SARCOPTERYGII Class DIPNOTETRAPODOMORPHA
a clade of lobe-finned fishes that includes the lungfishes (dipno-) and the tetrapods (tetrapodo-); morpha (Gr.), form or shape
Subclass DIPNOMORPHA
di-, from dis (L.), in two; pneuma (Gr.), breath, i.e., double breathing, having both external and internal nostrils; morpha (Gr.), form or shape
Order CERATODONTIFORMES Lungfishes 3 extant families • 3 genera • 9 species/subspecies
ceratos (Gr.), horn; odontos (Gr.), tooth, referring to prominent, shark-like tooth plates of Ceratodus Agassiz 1838, a cosmopolitan genus of Triassic lungfishes
Family NEOCERATODONTIDAE Australian Lungfish one extant species
Family LEPIDOSIRENIDAE South American Lungfish monotypic
Family PROTOPTERIDAE African Lungfishes 1 genus • 7 species/subspecies
Megaclass OSTEICHTHYES Superclass ACTINOPTERYGII Ray-finned Fishes
actino– (Gr.), ray; pteron (Gr.), fin, i.e., fishes with fins of webbed skin supported by bony or horny spines (“rays”), as opposed to the fleshy, lobed fins that characterize Superclass Sarcopterygii
Class CLADISTIA
etymology not explained, perhaps clado-, from klados (Gr.) branch; –istia, from –istes (Gr.), signifying agent, i.e., “one that branches,” possibly referring to basally branching rays of polypterids (bichirs)
Order POLYPTERIFORMES
Family POLYPTERIDAE Bichirs 2 genera • 14 species
Superclass ACTINOPTERYGII Class ACTINOPTERI Subclass CHONDROSTEI
chondros (Gr.), cartilage; osteo- (Gr.), bone, being primarily cartilaginous fishes that show some ossification
Order ACIPENSERIFORMES 2 families • 6 genera • 32 species/subspecies
Family ACIPENSERIDAE Sturgeons 4 genera • 30 species/subspecies
Family POLYODONTIDAE Paddlefishes 2 genera • 2 species
Class ACTINOPTERI Subclass NEOPTERYGII
neos (Gr.), new or modern; pterus (Gr.), fin or wing, presumably referring to the “newness” or modernity of their rayed fins
Infraclass HOLOSTEI
holos (Gr.), whole or entire; osteus (Gr.), bony, referring to highly ossified skeleton in most taxa (a thin layer of bone covers a mostly cartilaginous skeleton in bowfins, Amiiformes)
Order LEPISOSTEIFORMES
Family LEPISOSTEIDAE Gars 2 genera • 7 species
Order AMIIFORMES
Family AMIIDAE Bowfins 1 genus • 2 species
Subclass NEOPTERYGII Infraclass TELEOSTEI
teleos (Gr.), perfect or complete; osteus (Gr.), bony, possibly referring to entire skeletons comprised completely of true bone (rather than cartilage), but perhaps also referring to their evolutionary position as the most advanced of living fishes
Megacohort ELOPOCEPHALAI
cephalus, from kephale (Gr.), head, perhaps used here to delineate a “crown group” of teleostean fishes
Cohort ELOPOMORPHA
morpha (Gr.), form or shape, i.e., having the form of an elopiform or elopid fish
Order ELOPIFORMES 2 families • 2 genera • 9 species
Family ELOPIDAE Tenpounders and Ladyfishes 1 genus • 7 species
Family MEGALOPIDAE Tarpons 1 genus • 2 species
Order ALBULIFORMES
Family ALBULIDAE Bonefishes 3 genera • 13 species
Subfamily ALBULINAE Bonefishes
Subfamily PTEROTHRISSINAE Longfin or Deepwater Bonefishes
Order NOTACANTHIFORMES 2 families • 8 genera/subgenera • 30 species
Family HALOSAURIDAE Halosaurs 4 genera/subgenera • 16 species
Family NOTACANTHIDAE Deep-sea Spiny Eels 4 genera • 14 species
Order ANGUILLIFORMES Eels 20 families • 169 genera/subgenera • 1,073 species/subspecies
Family PROTANGUILLIDAE Primitive Cave Eel monotypic
Family SYNAPHOBRANCHIDAE Cutthroat Eels 12 genera • 55 species
Subfamily SIMENCHELYINAE Pugnose Snubnose Eel
Subfamily ILYOPHINAE Arrowtooth Eels or Mustard Eels
Subfamily SYNAPHOBRANCHINAE Cutthroat Eels
Family HETERENCHELYIDAE Mud Eels 2 genera • 8 species
Family MYROCONGRIDAE Myroconger Eels 1 genus • 6 species
Family MURAENIDAE Moray Eels 19 genera/subgenera • 227 species
Subfamily UROPTERYGIINAE
Subfamily MURAENINAE
Family CHLOPSIDAE False Morays 8 genera • 25 species
Family DERICHTHYIDAE Longneck or Narrowneck Eels 2 genera • 3 species
Family COLOCONGRIDAE Shorttail Eels 1 genus • 9 species
Family OPHICHTHIDAE Snake Eels and Worm Eels 67 genera/subgenera • 364 species
Subfamily OPHICHTHINAE Snake Eels
Subfamily MYROPHINAE Worm Eels
Family MURAENESOCIDAE Pike Congers 5 genera • 9 species
Family NETTASTOMATIDAE Duckbill Eels 6 genera • 46 species
Family CONGRIDAE Conger Eels 32 genera • 235 species
Subfamily CONGRINAE Conger Eels
Subfamily HETEROCONGRINAE Garden Eels
Subfamily BATHYMYRINAE
Family MORINGUIDAE Spaghetti Eels 2 genera • 18 species
Family CYEMATIDAE Bobtail Eel monotypic
Family NEOCYEMATIDAE Bobtail Snipe Eel monotypic
Family MONOGNATHIDAE Onejaw Gulpers 1 genus • 15 species
Family SACCOPHARYNGIDAE Swallowers or Whiptail Gulpers 1 genus • 10 species
Family EURYPHARYNGIDAE Pelican Eel monotypic
Family NEMICHTHYIDAE Snipe Eels 3 genera • 9 species
Family SERRIVOMERIDAE Sawtooth Eels 2 genera • 10 species
Family ANGUILLIDAE Freshwater Eels 1 genus • 20 species/subspecies
Megacohort OSTEOGLOSSOCEPHALAI
cephala-, from kephale (Gr.), head, perhaps used here to delineate a “crown group” of teleostean fishes
Supercohort OSTEOGLOSSOMORPHA
osteo-, from osteus (Gr.), bony and glossa (Gr.), tongue, referring to toothed tongue; morpha (Gr.), form or shape
Order HIODONTIFORMES
Family HIODONTIDAE Mooneyes 1 genus • 2 species
Order OSTEOGLOSSIFORMES 6 families • 33 genera/subgenera • 268 species/subspecies
Family PANTODONTIDAE Freshwater Butterflyfish monotypic
Family OSTEOGLOSSIDAE Bonytongues 3 genera/subgenera • 6 species
Family ARAPAIMIDAE Arapaimas 2 genera • 6 species
Family NOTOPTERIDAE Featherfin Knifefishes 4 genera • 11 species
Subfamily NOTOPTERINAE Asiatic Featherbacks
Subfamily XENOMYSTINAE African Knifefishes
Family MORMYRIDAE Elephantfishes 22 genera/subgenera • 243 species/subspecies
Subfamily MORMYRINAE
Subfamily PETROCEPHALINAE
Family GYMNARCHIDAE Aba monotypic
Supercohort CLUPEOCEPHALA
clupea, a herring; cephala, head, perhaps used here to delineate a “crown group” of teleostean fishes
Cohort OTOMORPHA
oto-, referring to otophysic (hearing) connection between swim bladder and inner ear in most members; morpha, form or shape
Subcohort CLUPEI
Order CLUPEIFORMES 10 families • 88 genera/subgenera • 481 species/subspecies
Superorder DENTICIPITOIDEI
Family DENTICIPITIDAE Denticle Herring one extant species
Superorder CLUPEOIDEI
Family SPRATELLOIDIDAE Small Round Herrings 2 genera • 9 species
Family ENGRAULIDAE Anchovies 17 genera/subgenera • 198 species/subspecies
Subfamily COILIINAE Old World Anchovies
Subfamily ENGRAULINAE Anchovies
Family CLUPEIDAE Herrings and Sprats 7 genera • 19 species/subspecies
Family CHIROCENTRIDAE Wolf Herrings 1 genus • 2 species
Family DUSSUMIERIIDAE Round Herrings or Rainbow Sardines 2 genera • 16 species
Family PRISTIGASTERIDAE Longfin Herrings 9 genera • 39 species
Family EHIRAVIDAE River Sprats 11 genera • 29 species
Family ALOSIDAE Shads and Sardines 5 genera/subgenera • 49 species/subspecies
Family DOROSOMATIDAE Gizzard Shads and Sardinellas 33 genera/subgenera • 119 species/subspecies
Subcohort ALEPOCEPHALI
Order ALEPOCEPHALIFORMES 2 families • 33 genera • 143 species/subspecies
Family PLATYTROCTIDAE Tubeshoulders 13 genera • 40 species
Family ALEPOCEPHALIDAE Slickheads 20 genera • 103 species/subspecies
Subcohort OSTARIOPHYSI
ostar, small bone; physa, bladder, referring to Weberian apparatus, a complex of modified vertebrae and ligaments that connect the gas bladder to the inner ear (except for Section Anotophysa)
Section ANOTOPHYSA
an-, without; oto-, ear; physa, bladder, referring to lack of Weberian apparatus; instead, anotophysans possess a primitive homolog consisting of three modified anterior vertebrae associated with cephalic rib bones
Order GONORYNCHIFORMES 4 families • 7 genera • 40 species
Family CHANIDAE Milkfishes one extant species
Family GONORYNCHIDAE Beaked Sandfishes 1 genus • 5 species
Family KNERIIDAE Knerias or Shellears 4 genera • 33 species
Family PHRACTOLAEMIDAE Snake Mudhead monotypic
Section OTOPHYSA
oto-, ear; physa, bladder, referring to Weberian apparatus, a complex of modified vertebrae and ligaments that connect gas bladder to inner ear, giving otophysans the most sensitive hearing among fishes
Superorder CYPRINIPHYSAE
combination of Cypriniformes and physa, bladder (see above)
Order CYPRINIFORMES 23 families • 535 genera/subgenera • 5,067 species/subspecies
Suborder GYRINOCHEILOIDEI
Family GYRINOCHEILIDAE Algae Eaters 1 genus • 3 species
Suborder CATOSTOMOIDEI
Family CATOSTOMIDAE Suckers 15 genera • 95 species/subspecies
Subfamily MYXOCYPRININAE Chinese Sucker
Subfamily CYCLEPTINAE Blue Suckers
Subfamily ICTIOBINAE Carpsuckers and Buffalos
Subfamily CATOSTOMINAE Suckers
Suborder COBITOIDEI
Family BOTIIDAE Pointface Loaches 8 genera • 66 species
Subfamily LEPTOBOTIINAE
Subfamily BOTIINAE
Family VAILLANTELLIDAE Longfin Loaches 1 genus • 3 species
Family COBITIDAE Loaches 19 genera/subgenera • 248 species/subspecies
Family BARBUCCIDAE Fire-eyed or Scooter Loaches 1 genus • 2 species
Family GASTROMYZONTIDAE Torrent or Sucker Loaches 21 genera • 151 species
Family SERPENTICOBITIDAE Snake Loaches 1 genus • 3 species
Family BALITORIDAE Hillstream or River Loaches 16 genera • 110 species/subspecies
Subfamily BALITORINAE
Subfamily HOMALOPTEROIDINAE
Subfamily Incertae sedis
Family ELLOPOSTOMATIDAE Squarehead Loaches 1 genus • 2 species
Family NEMACHEILIDAE Stone or Brook Loaches 58 genera/subgenera • 861 species/subspecies
Suborder CYPRINOIDEI
Family PAEDOCYPRIDIDAE Tiny Carps 1 genus • 3 species
Family PSILORHYNCHIDAE Mountain Carps 1 genus • 33 species
Family CYPRINIDAE Carps 166 genera/subgenera • 1,811 species/subspecies
Subfamily CYPRININAE Carps 34 genera/subgenera • 226 species/subspecies
Subfamily LABEONINAE Labeos 56 genera/subgenera • 529 species/subspecies
Subfamily PROBARBINAE Giant Barbs and Isok Barbs 2 genera • 4 species
Subfamily TORINAE Large Barbs 15 genera • 228 species
Subfamily SMILIOGASTRINAE Small Barbs 33 genera • 486 species
Subfamily ACROSSOCHEILINAE East Asian Barbs 4 genera/subgenera • 51 species/subspecies
Subfamily BARBINAE Barbels 10 genera • 146 species/subspecies
Subfamily SPINIBARBINAE Spine Barbs 2 genera • 15 species
Subfamily SCHIZOTHORACINAE Snow Barbels 5 genera/subgenera • 81 species/subspecies
Subfamily SCHIZOPYGOPSINAE Mountain Barbels 5 genera • 45 species/subspecies
Family SUNDADANIONIDAE Tiny Danios 2 genera • 9 species
Family DANIONIDAE Danios 39 genera • 370 species
Subfamily CHEDRINAE Trout Barbs
Subfamily RASBORINAE Rasboras
Subfamily DANIONINAE Danios
Subfamily ESOMINAE Flying Barbs
Family LEPTOBARBIDAE Cigar Barbs 1 genus • 5 species
Family XENOCYPRIDIDAE Sharpbellies 45 genera • 173 species/subspecies
Subfamily XENOCYPRIDINAE
Subfamily OPSARIICHTHYINAE
Subfamily Incertae sedis
Family TINCIDAE Tench monotypic
Family ACHEILOGNATHIDAE Bitterlings 6 genera • 85 species/subspecies
Family GOBIONIDAE Gudgeons 28 genera • 251 species/subspecies
Subfamily GOBIONINAE
Subfamily SARCOCHEILICHTHYINAE
Subfamily Incertae sedis
Family TANICHTHYIDAE Mountain Minnows 1 genus • 10 species
Family LEUCISCIDAE Minnows 102 genera/subgenera • 772 species/subspecies
Subfamily PSEUDASPININAE Far East Asian Minnows 3 genera • 24 species/subspecies
Subfamily LEUCISCINAE European Minnows 38 genera/subgenera • 333 species/subspecies
Subfamily PHOXININAE Eurasian Minnows 1 genus • 28 species/subspecies
Subfamily LAVINIINAE Western Chubs 12 genera/subgenera • 66 species/subspecies
Subfamily PLAGOPTERINAE Creek Chubs 7 genera • 18 species/subspecies
Subfamily POGONICHTHYINAE American Minnows and Shiners 41 genera • 303 species/subspecies
Superorder CHARACIPHYSAE
combination of Characiformes and physa, bladder (see above)
Order CHARACIFORMES 27 families • 294 genera/subgenera • 2,397 species/subspecies
Suborder CITHARINOIDEI
Family DISTICHODONTIDAE Distichodontids 16 genera • 112 species/subspecies
Family CITHARINIDAE Lutefishes 3 genera • 10 species/subspecies
Suborder CHARACOIDEI
Family CRENUCHIDAE South American Darters 11 genera • 118 species
Subfamily CRENUCHINAE Sailfin Tetras
Subfamily CHARACIDIINAE South American Darters
Family ALESTIDAE African Tetras 21 genera • 122 species/subspecies
Family HEPSETIDAE African Pikes 1 genus • 6 species
Family TARUMANIIDAE Muckfish monotypic
Family ERYTHRINIDAE Trahiras 3 genera • 20 species
Family PARODONTIDAE Scrapetooths 3 genera • 32 species
Family CYNODONTIDAE Dogtooth Tetras 3 genera • 8 species
Family SERRASALMIDAE Pacus and Piranhas 17 genera • 106 species
Subfamily COLOSSOMATINAE Lowland Pacus
Subfamily MYLEINAE Upland Pacus
Subfamily SERRASALMINAE Piranhas
Family HEMIODONTIDAE Halftooths 5 genera • 35 species/subspecies
Family ANOSTOMIDAE Toothed Headstanders 16 genera • 153 species
Family CHILODONTIDAE Headstanders 2 genera • 8 species
Family CURIMATIDAE Toothless Characiforms 8 genera • 121 species
Family PROCHILODONTIDAE Bocachicos 3 genera • 21 species
Family LEBIASINIDAE Pencilfishes 6 genera • 75 species/subspecies
Subfamily LEBIASININAE
Subfamily PYRRHULININAE
Family CTENOLUCIIDAE Pike Characids 2 genera • 7 species
Family ACESTRORHYNCHIDAE Freshwater Barracudas and Biting Tetras 7 genera • 26 species
Subfamily ACESTRORHYNCHINAE Freshwater Barracudas
Subfamily ROESTINAE Biting Tetras
Subfamily HETEROCHARACINAE Small Biting Tetras
Family SPINTHEROBOLIDAE Piquiras 2 genera • 5 species
Family CHARACIDAE Characins 49 genera • 214 species/subspecies
Subfamily EXODONTINAE Toothy or Lepidophagous Characins 3 genera • 4 species
Subfamily TETRAGONOPTERINAE 1 genus • 14 species
Subfamily CHARACINAE Characines 10 genera • 98 species
Subfamily APHYOCHARACINAE Glass Characins 8 genera • 22 species
Subfamily CHEIRODONTINAE Cheirodontines 18 genera • 67 species
Subfamily Incertae sedis 9 genera • 9 species
Family ACESTRORHAMPHIDAE American Characins 55 genera/subgenera • 696 species
Subfamily OXYBRYCONINAE
Subfamily TROCHILOCHARACINAE Hummingbird Characins
Subfamily STYGICHTHYINAE
Subfamily MEGALAMPHODINAE Red Tetras
Subfamily STICHONODONTINAE
Subfamily STETHAPRIONINAE Discus Tetras
Subfamily PRISTELLINAE
Subfamily JUPIABINAE
Subfamily TYTTOBRYCONINAE
Subfamily HYPHESSOBRYCONINAE Multicusp Characins
Subfamily THAYERIINAE
Subfamily RHOADSIINAE Pacific Characins
Subfamily GRUNDULINAE
Subfamily ACESTRORHAMPHINAE American Tetras
Family STEVARDIIDAE Stevardiids 43 genera • 374 species
Subfamily LANDONINAE Caudal Sac Characins
Subfamily XENUROBRYCONINAE Xenurobryconins
Subfamily GLANDULOCAUDINAE Chirping Tetras
Subfamily ARGOPLEURINAE Andean Tetras
Subfamily HEMIBRYCONINAE Hemibryconins
Subfamily STEVARDIINAE Stevardiines
Subfamily PLANALTININAE Brazilian Shield Tetras
Subfamily CREAGRUTINAE Creagrutins
Subfamily DIAPOMINAE
Family IGUANODECTIDAE 4 genera/subgenera • 39 species
Family TRIPORTHEIDAE Keeled Characins 5 genera • 22 species
Subfamily TRIPORTHEINAE
Subfamily AGONIATINAE
Subfamily CLUPEACHARACINAE
Family BRYCONIDAE Dorados or Jaw Characins 4 genera • 52 species
Subfamily BRYCONINAE
Subfamily SALMININAE
Family CHALCEIDAE Tucanfishes 1 genus • 5 species
Family GASTEROPELECIDAE Freshwater Hatchetfishes 3 genera • 9 species
Superorder SILURIPHYSAE
combination of Siluriformes and physa, bladder (see above)
Order SILURIFORMES Catfishes (41 families • 540 genera/subgenera • 4,298 species/subspecies)
Suborder DIPLOMYSTOIDEI
Family DIPLOMYSTIDAE Velvet Catfishes 1 genus • 9 species
Suborder CETOPSOIDEI
Family CETOPSIDAE Whale and Marbled Catfishes 5 genera • 44 species
Subfamily CETOPSINAE Whale Catfishes
Subfamily HELOGENINAE Marbled Catfishes
Suborder LORICARIOIDEI
Family TRICHOMYCTERIDAE Pencil and Parasitic Catfishes 53 genera/subgenera • 445 species
Subfamily COPIONODONTINAE Chapada Pencil Catfishes
Subfamily TRICHOGENINAE Longfin Pencil Catfishes
Subfamily TRICHOMYCTERINAE Pencil Catfishes
Subfamily MICROCAMBEVINAE Atlantic Forest Trichomycterids
Subfamily VANDELLIINAE Candirus or Hematophagous Catfishes
Subfamily STEGOPHILINAE Parasitic Catfishes
Subfamily TRIDENTINAE Tiny Pencil Catfishes
Subfamily GLANAPTERYGINAE Miniature Pencil Catfishes
Subfamily SARCOGLANIDINAE Psammophilic Catfishes
Family NEMATOGENYIDAE Mountain Catfishes one extant species
Family CALLICHTHYIDAE Armored Catfishes 12 genera • 226 species
Subfamily CALLICHTHYINAE Armored Catfishes
Subfamily CORYDORADINAE Corys
Family SCOLOPLACIDAE Spiny Dwarf Catfishes 1 genus • 6 species
Family ASTROBLEPIDAE Climbing Catfishes 1 genus • 82 species
Family LORICARIIDAE Suckermouth Armored Catfishes 118 genera • 1,072 species/subspecies
Subfamily LITHOGENINAE Climbing Armored Catfishes 1 genus • 3 species
Subfamily HYPOPTOPOMATINAE Cascudinhos 34 genera • 265 species
Subfamily LORICARIINAE Suckermouth Armored Catfishes 31 genera • 275 species
Subfamily HYPOSTOMINAE Suckermouth Catfishes or Plecos 47 genera/subgenera • 516 species/subspecies
Subfamily RHINELEPINAE Rhinelepine Plecos 3 genera • 6 species
Subfamily DELTURINAE Primitive suckermouth Catfishes 2 genera • 7 species
Suborder SILUROIDEI
Family SILURIDAE Sheatfishes 13 genera • 107 species
Family KRYPTOGLANIDAE Indian Cave Catfish monotypic
Family AUSTROGLANIDIDAE Rock Catfishes 1 genus • 3 species
Family PANGASIIDAE Shark Catfishes 5 genera/subgenera • 30 species
Family CHACIDAE Frogmouth Catfishes 1 genus • 4 species
Family PLOTOSIDAE Eeltail Catfishes 10 genera • 42 species
Family RITIDAE Ritas and Nanobagrids 2 genera • 14 species
Family AILIIDAE Asian Butter Catfishes 7 genera • 25 species
Family HORABAGRIDAE Sun or Imperial Catfishes 4 genera • 10 species
Family BAGRIDAE Naked or Bagrid Catfishes 15 genera • 221 species
Family AKYSIDAE Stream Catfishes 5 genera • 59 species
Subfamily AKYSINAE Stream Catfishes
Subfamily PARAKYSINAE Warty Catfishes
Family AMBLYCIPITIDAE Torrent Catfishes 4 genera • 49 species
Family SISORIDAE Hillstream Catfishes 26 genera • 331 species
Subfamily SISORINAE Hillstream Catfishes
Subfamily GLYPTOSTERNINAE Asian Sucker Catfishes
Family AMPHILIIDAE Loach Catfishes 13 genera • 104 species
Subfamily AMPHILIINAE Loach Catfishes
Subfamily LEPTOGLANIDINAE Sand Catlets
Subfamily DOUMEINAE African Whiptail Catfishes
Family MALAPTERURIDAE Electric Catfishes 2 genera • 19 species
Family MOCHOKIDAE Squeakers or Upside-down Catfishes 9 genera • 229 species
Subfamily CHILOGLANIDINAE African Suckermouth Catfishes
Subfamily MOCHOKINAE Squeakers or Upside-down Catfishes
Family SCHILBEIDAE African Butter Catfishes 5 genera • 35 species
Family AUCHENOGLANIDIDAE Giraffe Catfishes 3 genera • 30 species
Family CLAROTEIDAE Grunter Catfishes 12 genera/subgenera • 65 species
Family LACANTUNIIDAE Chiapas Catfish monotypic
Family CLARIIDAE Airbreathing Catfishes 21 genera/subgenera • 120 species/subspecies
Family HETEROPNEUSTIDAE Airsac Catfishes 1 genus • 5 species
Family ANCHARIIDAE Malagasy Catfishes 2 genera • 6 species
Family ARIIDAE Sea Catfishes 43 genera/subgenera • 158 species
Subfamily GALEICHTHYINAE Bearded Sea Catfishes
Subfamily ARIINAE Forktail Catfishes
Subfamily BAGREINAE Whiskered Sea Catfishes
Family ASPREDINIDAE Banjo Catfishes 13 genera • 49 species
Subfamily PSEUDOBUNOCEPHALINAE
Subfamily HOPLOMYZONTINAE
Subfamily ASPREDININAE
Family DORADIDAE Thorny Catfishes 31 genera • 96 species
Subfamily ACANTHODORADINAE
Subfamily WERTHEIMERINAE
Subfamily ASTRODORADINAE
Subfamily AGAMYXINAE
Subfamily RHINODORADINAE
Subfamily DORADINAE
Family AUCHENIPTERIDAE Driftwood Catfishes 25 genera • 128 species
Subfamily CENTROMOCHLINAE
Subfamily AUCHENIPTERINAE
Family CRANOGLANIDIDAE Armorhead Catfishes 1 genus • 5 species
Family ICTALURIDAE North American Catfishes 9 genera/subgenera • 52 species/subspecies
Family HEPTAPTERIDAE Three-barbled Catfishes 24 genera • 239 species/subspecies
Subfamily HEPTAPTERINAE Three-barbeled Catfishes
Subfamily RHAMDIINAE Whiskered Catfishes
Family PIMELODIDAE Long-whiskered Catfishes 32 genera/subgenera • 117 species
Subfamily PIMELODINAE
Subfamily SORUBIMINAE
Family PHREATOBIIDAE Cistern Catfishes 1 genus • 3 species
Family PSEUDOPIMELODIDAE Bumblebee Catfishes 6 genera • 58 species
Subfamily PSEUDOPIMELODINAE Bumblebee Catfishes
Subfamily BATROCHOGLANINAE Frog Catfishes
Order GYMNOTIFORMES Neotropical Knifefishes 5 families • 37 genera/subgenera • 278 species/subspecies
Family GYMNOTIDAE Nakedback Knifefishes and Electric Eels 2 genera • 56 species/subspecies
Subfamily GYMNOTINAE Nackedback Knifefishes
Subfamily ELECTROPHORINAE Electric Eels
Family RHAMPHICHTHYIDAE Sand Knifefishes 5 genera • 26 species
Family HYPOPOMIDAE Bluntnose Knifefishes 7 genera/subgenera • 37 species
Family STERNOPYGIDAE Glass Knifefishes 7 genera • 59 species
Subfamily EIGENMANNIINAE Glass Knifefishes
Subfamily STERNOPYGINAE Rattail Knifefishes
Family APTERONOTIDAE Ghost Knifefishes 16 genera • 100 species
Subfamily APTERONOTINAE Ghost Knifefishes
Subfamily STERNARCHORHAMPHINAE Longsnout Knifefishes
Cohort EUTELEOSTEOMORPHA
euteleost, derived from eū́– (Gr. εὖ ), an intensive (e.g., very), often interpreted as the “true” teleosts but proposed for fishes “mostly of distinctively teleostean level ancestry” (“Division III” fishes in Greenwood et al., 1966, “Phyletic studies of teleostean fishes, with a provisional classification of living forms”), which, at the time, included groups now placed in Cohort Otomorpha; name and etymology date to Greenwood et al., 1967, “Named main divisions of teleostean fishes”; morpha, from morphḗ (Gr. μορφή), form or shape
Subcohort LEPIDOGALAXII
Order LEPIDOGALAXIIFORMES
Family LEPIDOGALAXIIDAE Salamanderfish monotypic
Subcohort PROTACANTHOPTERYGII
prṓtos (Gr. πρῶτος), first; acantho (L.), from ákantha (Gr. ἄκανθα), thorn; pterón (Gr. πτερόν), fin or wing, i.e., ray-finned fishes that lack spines and therefore are presumed to resemble ancestors of spiny rayed fishes
Order SALMONIFORMES 2 families • 21 genera/subgenera • 317 species/subspecies
Family ESOCIDAE Pikes and Mudminnows 4 genera • 15 species/subspecies
Family SALMONIDAE Salmonids 17 genera/subgenera • 302 species/subspecies
Subfamily COREGONINAE Whitefishes
Subfamily THYMALLINAE Graylings
Subfamily SALMONINAE Trouts, Salmons and Chars
Order ARGENTINIFORMES Marine Smelts 4 families • 24 genera/subgenera • 99 species
Family ARGENTINIDAE Argentines or Herring Smelts 3 genera/subgenera • 29 species
Family OPISTHOPROCTIDAE Barreleyes or Spookfishes 10 genera • 23 species
Family MICROSTOMATIDAE Pencilsmelts 3 genera • 22 species
Family BATHYLAGIDAE Deepsea Smelts 8 genera • 25 species
Order GALAXIIFORMES Galaxiids
Family GALAXIIDAE Galaxiids 7 genera • 66 species
Subfamily APLOCHITONINAE Peladillas
Subfamily GALAXIINAE White Bait and Mudfishes
PART TWO (etymologies pending review and revision)
Subcohort STOMIATI
note: based on Stomiatiformes, proposed by Rosen (1973), whose spelling was deemed incorrect and emended to Stomiiformes by Fink & Weitzman (1982); however, some researchers use the original spelling
Order OSMERIFORMES Freshwater Smelts (4 families • 17 genera • 46 species/subspecies)
Suborder OSMEROIDEI
Family OSMERIDAE Smelts (6 genera • 17 species/subspecies)
Family PLECOGLOSSIDAE Ayu or Sweetfish (1 genus • 3 species/subspecies)
Family SALANGIDAE Icefishes or Noodlefishes (7 genera • 19 species)
Suborder RETROPINNOIDEI
Family RETROPINNIDAE (3 genera • 7 species)
Subfamily RETROPINNINAE Southern Smelts
Subfamily PROTOTROCTINAE Southern Graylings
Order STOMIIFORMES (4 families • 66 genera/subgenera • 465 species/subspecies)
Family GONOSTOMATIDAE Bristlemouths (8 genera • 34 species)
Family STERNOPTYCHIDAE Marine Hatchetfishes (10 genera • 79 species)
Subfamily STERNOPTYCHINAE
Subfamily MAUROLICINAE
Family PHOSICHTHYIDAE Lightfishes (7 genera • 24 species)
Family STOMIIDAE Barbled Dragonfishes (41 genera/subgenera • 328 species/subspecies)
Subfamily CHAULIODONTINAE Viperfishes
Subfamily STOMIINAE Scaly Dragonfishes
Subfamily ASTRONESTHINAE Snaggletooths
Subfamily MELANOSTOMIINAE Scaleless Black Dragonfishes
Subfamily MALACOSTEINAE Loosejaws
Subfamily IDIACANTHINAE Black Dragonfishes
Subcohort NEOTELEOSTEI
neo-, new, i.e., a taxon of teleostean fishes considered to monophyletic on the basis of four skull and jaw characters possessed by different members that are lacking in more primitive teleosts
Infracohort ATELEOPODOMORPHA
Order ATELEOPODIFORMES Jellynose Fishes
Family ATELEOPODIDAE (4 genera • 11 species)
Infracohort EURYPTERYGIA
eurys, wide; pteron, fin or wing; coined by Rosen (1973) but allusion not explained, possibly referring to better-developed fins (with spiny rays) compared to soft-rayed fins of Stomiiformes, which he placed in Stenopterygia (stenos, narrow), then presumed to be the more primitive sister group of neoteleosteans
Section CYCLOSQUAMATA
cyclo-, cycloid; squamata, scaled, referring to predominance of cycloid scales among its taxa, compared to the Ctenosquamata, in which ctenoid scales predominate
Order AULOPIFORMES Lizardfishes (16 families • 49 genera/subgenera • 299 species/subspecies)
Suborder AULOPOIDEI
Family SYNODONTIDAE Lizardfishes (4 genera • 84 species)
Subfamily SYNODONTINAE Lizardfishes
Subfamily HARPADONTINAE Bombay Ducks
Family AULOPIDAE Flagfins (4 genera • 16 species)
Family PSEUDOTRICHONOTIDAE Sand-diving Lizardfishes (1 genus • 4 species)
Suborder PARAULOPOIDEI
Family PARAULOPIDAE Cucumberfishes (1 genus • 14 species)
Suborder ALEPISAUROIDEI
Family IPNOPIDAE Deepsea Tripod Fishes (8 genera/subgenera • 34 species/subspecies)
Subfamily IPNOPINAE
Subfamily BATHYSAUROPSINAE
Family GIGANTURIDAE Telescopefishes (1 genus • 2 species)
Family BATHYSAUROIDIDAE Largescale Deepsea Lizardfish (monotypic)
Family BATHYSAURIDAE Deepsea Lizardfishes (1 genus • 2 species)
Family CHLOROPHTHALMIDAE Greeneyes (2 genera • 22 species)
Family NOTOSUDIDAE Paperbones or Waryfishes (3 genera • 17 species)
Family SCOPELARCHIDAE Pearleyes (5 genera • 18 species)
Family EVERMANNELLIDAE Sabertooth Fishes (3 genera • 8 species)
Family SUDIDAE (1 genus • 2 species)
Family PARALEPIDIDAE Barracudinas (6 genera • 28 species/subspecies)
Family ALEPISAURIDAE Lancetfishes (4 genera • 9 species)
Family LESTIDIIDAE Naked Barracudinas (4 genera • 38 species)
Section CTENOSQUAMATA
cteno-, ctenoid; squamata, scaled, referring to predominance of ctenoid scales among its taxa, compared to the Cyclosquamata, in which cycloid scales predominate
Subsection MYCTOPHATA
-atus, having the nature of: mycto-, myctophiform fishes
Order MYCTOPHIFORMES Lanternfishes (2 families • 42 genera/subgenera • 267 species)
Family NEOSCOPELIDAE Blackchins (3 genera • 7 species)
Family MYCTOPHIDAE Lanternfishes (39 genera/subgenera • 260 species)
Subfamily GYMNOSCOPELINAE Luminous Lanternfishes
Subfamily NOTOLYCHNINAE Topside Lanternfish
Subfamily LAMPANYCTINAE Toothy Lampfishes
Subfamily DIAPHINAE Headlight Fishes
Subfamily MYCTOPHINAE Lanternishes
Subsection ACANTHOMORPHATA
acanthus, spine; morphata, shaped, referring to presence of true fin spines rather than hardened segmented rays
Division LAMPRIPTERYGII
lampri-, referring to Lampriformes; pterygii, one with fins, now a standard suffix for divisions in bony fishes
Order LAMPRIFORMES Opahs (6 families • 12 genera/subgenera • 29 species)
Family VELIFERIDAE Velifers (2 genera • 2 species)
Family LAMPRIDAE Opahs (1 genus & 1 subgenus • 6 species)
Family LOPHOTIDAE Crestfishes (2 genera • 5 species)
Family RADIICEPHALIDAE Tapertails (1 genus • 2 species)
Family TRACHIPTERIDAE Ribbonfishes (3 genera • 11 species)
Family REGALECIDAE Oarfishes (2 genera • 3 species)
Division PARACANTHOPTERYGII
para, near; acanthus, spine; pterygii, one with fins, representing a “spiny-finned radiation more or less comparable morphologically with that of the [division] Acanthopterygii”; name and explanation date to Greenwood et al., 1966, “Phyletic studies of teleostean fishes, with a provisional classification of living forms”
Series PERCOPSARIA
-arius, pertaining to: percops, percopsiform fishes
Order PERCOPSIFORMES Trout-Perches (3 families • 8 genera • 16 species)
Family PERCOPSIDAE Trout-Perches (1 genus • 2 species)
Family APHREDODERIDAE Pirate Perches (1 genus • 5 species)
Family AMBLYOPSIDAE Cavefishes (6 genera • 9 species)
Series ZEIOGADARIA
-arius, pertaining to: combination of the subseries Zeiariae (from Zeiformes) and Gadariae (from Gadiformes)
Subseries ZEIARIAE
Order ZEIFORMES Dories (6 families • 16 genera • 34 species)
Suborder CYTTOIDEI
Family CYTTIDAE Lookdown Dories (1 genus • 3 species)
Suborder ZEIODEI
Family OREOSOMATIDAE Oreos (4 genera • 10 species)
Subfamily PSEUDOCYTTINAE
Subfamily OREOSOMATINAE
Family PARAZENIDAE Smooth Dories (3 genera • 4 species)
Subfamily PARAZENINAE
Subfamily CYTTOPSINAE
Family ZENIONTIDAE Armoreye Dories (3 genera • 7 species)
Family GRAMMICOLEPIDIDAE Tinselfishes (3 genera • 3 species)
Subfamily MACRUROCYTTINAE
Subfamily GRAMMICOLEPIDINAE
Family ZEIDAE Dories (2 genera • 7 species)
Subseries GADARIAE
derived from Gadus, i.e., Gadiformes, sister order of Stylephoriformes
Order STYLEPHORIFORMES Tube-eye
Family STYLEPHORIDAE (monotypic)
Order GADIFORMES Cods and Hakes (17 families • 94 genera/subgenera • 644 species/subspecies)
Suborder BREGMACEROTOIDEI
Family BREGMACEROTIDAE Codlets (1 genus • 16 species)
Suborder GADOIDEI
+ Family PHYCIDAE Phycid Hakes (2 genera • 11 species)
+ Family GAIDROPSARIDAE Rocklings (3 genera • 19 species)
+ Family LOTIDAE Burbot, Cusk and Lings (3 genera • 8 species/subspecies)
+ Family GADIDAE Cods and Haddocks (11 genera • 27 species/subspecies)
Suborder RANICIPITOIDEI
+ Family RANICIPITIDAE Tadpole Cod (monotypic)
Suborder MERLUCCIOIDEI
+ Family MERLUCCIIDAE Hakes (2 genera • 16 species/subspecies)
Suborder MACROUROIDEI
+ Family EUCLICHTHYIDAE Eucla Cods (1 genus • 3 species)
+ Family MURAENOLEPIDIDAE Eel Cods (2 genera • 8 species)
+ Family MELANONIDAE Pelagic Cods (1 genus • 2 species)
+ Family TRACHYRINCIDAE Armored Grenadiers (4 genera • 9 species)
+ Family MORIDAE Deepsea Cods (19 genera • 114 species/subspecies)
+ Family MACRURONIDAE Southern Hakes (1 genus • 3 species/subspecies)
+ Family LYCONIDAE Atlantic Hakes (1 genus • 2 species)
+ Family BATHYGADIDAE Codhead Rattails (2 genera • 27 species/subspecies)
+ Family STEINDACHNERIIDAE Luminous Hake (monotypic}
Family MACROURIDAE Grenadiers (39 genera/subgenera • 377 species/subspecies)
Division POLYMIXIIPTERYGII
polymixii-, referring to Polymixiiformes; pterygii, one with fins, now a standard suffix for divisions in bony fishes
Order POLYMIXIIFORMES Beardfishes
Family POLYMIXIIDAE (1 genus • 12 species)
Division ACANTHOPTERYGII
acanthus, spine; pteron, fin or wing, representing the ray-finned fishes, referring to the sharp, bony rays in their fins
Subdivision HOLOCENTRIMORPHACEAE
-morpha, form or shape, i.e., having the form of a holocentrid; –aceae, terminal ending for subdivisions in zoology
Order HOLOCENTRIFORMES Squirrelfishes and Soldierfishes
Family HOLOCENTRIDAE (8 genera • 91 species)
Subfamily HOLOCENTRINAE Squirrelfishes
Subfamily MYRIPRISTINAE Soldierfishes
Subdivision BERYCIMORPHACEAE
-morpha, form or shape, i.e., having the form of a beryciform; –aceae, terminal ending for subdivisions in zoology
Order TRACHICHTHYIFORMES Roughies (5 families • 23 genera/subgenera • 76 species/subspecies)
Family ANOPLOGASTRIDAE Fangtooths (1 genus • 2 species)
Family DIRETMIDAE Spinyfins (3 genera • 4 species)
Family ANOMALOPIDAE Flashlight or Lanterneye Fishes (6 genera • 9 species)
Family MONOCENTRIDAE Pinecone Fishes (2 genera • 5 species)
Family TRACHICHTHYIDAE Roughies (11 genera/subgenera • 56 species/subspecies)
Order BERYCIFORMES (8 families • 29 genera • 126 species/subspecies)
Suborder STEPHANOBERYCOIDEI
Family GIBBERICHTHYIDAE Gibberfishes (1 genus • 2 species)
Family STEPHANOBERYCIDAE Pricklefishes (4 genera • 4 species)
Family HISPIDOBERYCIDAE (monotypic)
Family RONDELETIIDAE Redmouth Whalefishes (1 genus • 2 species)
Family BARBOURISIIDAE Red or Velvet Whalefish (monotypic)
Family CETOMIMIDAE Flabby Whalefishes (14 genera • 27 species)
Suborder BERYCOIDEI
Family MELAMPHAIDAE Bigscales (5 genera • 79 species/subspecies)
Family BERYCIDAE Alfonsinos (2 genera • 10 species)
Subdivision PERCOMORPHACEAE
perco-, perch; morpha-, form or shape, proposed by Cope (1871) for fish groups with abdominal (and presumably perch-like) ventral fins; –aceae, terminal ending for subdivisions in zoology
Series OPHIDIARIA
Order OPHIDIIFORMES Cusk-eels (5 families • 119 genera • 572 species)
Suborder OPHIDIOIDEI
Family CARAPIDAE Pearlfishes (9 genera • 37 species)
Subfamily PYRAMODONTINAE
Subfamily CARAPINAE Fierasfers
Subfamily TETRAGONDACNINAE Square-mouthed Pearlfishes
Subfamily HYPOPLEURONINAE Whiptailed Pearlfish
+ Family OPHIDIIDAE Cusk-eels (48 genera • 289 species)
Subfamily BROTULINAE Bearded Cusk-eels
Subfamily BROTULOTAENIINAE Prickle Cusk-eels
Subfamily OPHIDIINAE
Subfamily NEOBYTHITINAE
Suborder BYTHITOIDEI
Family BYTHITIDAE Viviparous (or Livebearing) Brotulas (36 genera • 129 species)
+ Family DINEMATICHTHYIDAE (26 genera • 117 species)
Series BATRACHOIDIARIA
Order BATRACHOIDIFORMES Toadfishes (23 genera • 84 species)
Family BATRACHOIDIDAE
Subfamily PORICHTHYINAE
Subfamily THALASSOPHRYNINAE Venomous Toadfishes
Subfamily BATRACHOIDINAE
Subfamily HALOPHRYNINAE
Series GOBIARIA
Order KURTIFORMES (2 families • 43 genera/subgenera • 384 species)
Suborder KURTOIDEI
Family KURTIDAE Nurseryfishes (1 genus • 2 species)
Suborder APOGONOIDEI
Family APOGONIDAE Cardinalfishes (42 genera/subgenera • 382 species)
Subfamily APOGONINAE
Subfamily PSEUDAMIINAE
Subfamily AMIOIDINAE
Subfamily PAXTONINAE
Order GOBIIFORMES Gobies (9 families • 342 genera/subgenera • 2,450 species/subspecies)
Suborder TRICHONOTOIDEI
Family TRICHONOTIDAE Sanddivers (1 genus • 10 species)
+ Suborder GOBIOIDEI
+ Family RHYACICHTHYIDAE Loach Gobies (2 genera • 4 species)
+ Family ODONTOBUTIDAE Freshwater Sleepers (8 genera • 28 species)
+ Family MILYERINGIDAE Blind Cave Gobies (2 genera • 5 species)
+ Family ELEOTRIDAE Spinycheek Sleepers (28 genera • 171 species/subspecies)
+ Family BUTIDAE Butid Sleepers (10 genera • 55 species)
+ Family THALASSELEOTRIDIDAE Ocean Sleepers (3 genera • 4 species)
Family OXUDERCIDAE Mudskipper Gobies (116 genera/subgenera • 732 species/subspecies)
Acanthogobius – Oxyurichthys
Paedogobius – Zappa
Family GOBIIDAE Gobies (172 genera/subgenera • 1,441 species/subspecies)
Aboma – Ctenogobiops
Didogobius – Heteroplopomus
Istigobius – Pterocerdale
Rhinogobiops – Zebra
Series OVALENTARIA
ovum, egg; lentae, sticky or tenacious, referring to the diagnostic and characteristic adhesive eggs found in most species in this clade
Superorder MUGILOMORPHAE
Order MUGILIFORMES Mullets
Family MUGILIDAE (25 genera • 79 species)
Superorder CICHLIMORPHAE
Order CICHLIFORMES (10 families • 363 genera/subgenera • 2,647 species/subspecies)
Family CICHLIDAE Cichlids (265 genera/subgenera • 1,788 species/subspecies)
Subfamily ETROPLINAE (3 genera • 16 species)
+ Subfamily PTYCHOCHROMINAE (5 genera • 16 species)
Subfamily PSEUDOCRENILABRINAE African Cichlids (170 genera/subgenera • 1,194 species/subspecies)
Abactochromis – Greenwoodochromis
Haplochromis – Konia
Labeotropheus – Otopharynx
Pallidochromis – Yssichromis
Subfamily CICHLINAE American Cichlids (86 genera/subgenera • 561 species)
Acarichthys – Cryptoheros
Darienheros – Wajpamheros
Family AMBASSIDAE Asiatic Glassfishes (8 genera • 54 species)
+ Family GRAMMATIDAE Gramma Basslets (2 genera • 18 species)
+ Family PLESIOPIDAE Roundheads (12 genera • 52 species)
Subfamily PLESIOPINAE Roundheads or Longfins
Subfamily ACANTHOCLININAE Spiny Basslets
+ Family OPISTOGNATHIDAE Jawfishes (4 genera • 109 species)
+ Family POLYCENTRIDAE Afro-American Leaffishes (4 genera • 5 species)
+ Family EMBIOTOCIDAE Surfperches (13 genera • 27 species/subspecies)
+ Family PHOLIDICHTHYIDAE Convict Blennies (1 genus • 2 species)
Family PSEUDOCHROMIDAE Dottybacks (25 genera/subgenera • 155 species)
Subfamily PSEUDOCHROMINAE
Subfamily PSEUDOPLESIOPINAE
Subfamily ANISOCHROMINAE Annies
Subfamily CONGRODANINAE Eel-blennies or Snakelets
Subfamily ASSICULINAE
Subfamily ASSICULOIDINAE
Family POMACENTRIDAE Damselfishes (29 genera • 437 species)
Subfamily CHROMINAE
Subfamily GLYPHISODONTINAE
Subfamily MICROSPATHODONTINAE
Subfamily POMACENTRINAE
Superorder BLENNIIMORPHAE
Order BLENNIIFORMES Blennies (6 families • 160 genera/subgenera • 969 species/subspecies)
Family TRIPTERYGIIDAE Triplefin Blennies (29 genera • 190 species)
+ Family DACTYLOSCOPIDAE Sand Stargazers (9 genera • 48 species)
Family BLENNIIDAE Combtooth Blennies (64 genera/subgenera • 416 species/subspecies)
Subfamily SALARIINAE
Subfamily BLENNIINAE
Family CLINIDAE Kelp Blennies (27 genera/subgenera • 91 species)
+ Family LABRISOMIDAE (18 genera/subgenera • 130 species)
+ Family CHAENOPSIDAE Pikeblennies or Tubeblennies (13 genera • 94 species/subspecies)
Order GOBIESOCIFORMES Clingfishes
Family GOBIESOCIDAE (52 genera • 195 species/subspecies)
Subfamily DIPLOCREPINAE
Subfamily LEPADOGASTRINAE
Subfamily CHORISOCHISMINAE
Subfamily HAPLOCYLICINAE
Subfamily PROTOGOBIESOCINAE
Subfamily CHEILOBRANCHINAE Shore-Eels
Subfamily TRACHELOCHISMINAE
Subfamily DIADEMICHTHYINAE
Subfamily GOBIESOCINAE
Subfamily Incertae sedis
Superorder ATHERINOMORPHAE
Order ATHERINIFORMES Silversides (10 families • 56 genera/subgenera • 394 species/subspecies)
Suborder ATHERINOPSOIDEI
Family ATHERINOPSIDAE New World Silversides (19 genera/subgenera • 110 species)
Subfamily ATHERINOPSINAE
Subfamily MENIDIINAE
Subfamily NOTOCHEIRINAE Surf Silverside
+ Suborder ATHERINOIDEI
+ Family ATHERINIDAE Silversides (13 genera • 79 species)
Subfamily ATHERINIMORINAE
Subfamily ATHERININAE
Subfamily CRATEROCEPHALINAE Hardyheads
Subfamily BLEHERATHERININAE New Caledonian Silverside
+ Family ATHERIONIDAE Pricklenose Silversides (1 genus • 3 species)
Family BEDOTIIDAE Malagasy Rainbowfishes (2 genera • 16 species)
+ Family MELANOTAENIIDAE Rainbowfishes (7 genera • 115 species/subspecies)
+ Family PSEUDOMUGILIDAE Blue-eyes (3 genera • 23 species)
+ Family TELMATHERINIDAE Sailfin Silversides (5 genera • 18 species)
+ Family ISONIDAE Surf Sardines (1 genus • 5 species)
+ Family DENTATHERINIDAE Tusked Sardine (monotypic)
+ Family PHALLOSTETHIDAE Priapium Fishes (4 genera • 24 species)
Order BELONIFORMES Needlefishes (6 families • 44 genera/subgenera • 320 species/subspecies)
Suborder ADRIANICHTHYOIDEI
Family ADRIANICHTHYIDAE (3 genera • 43 species)
Subfamily ORYZIINAE Medakas or Ricefishes
Subfamily ADRIANICHTHYINAE Duckbilled Fishes
Suborder EXOCOETOIDEI
Family EXOCOETIDAE Flyingfishes (15 genera/subgenera • 98 species/subspecies)
Subfamily FODIATORINAE
Subfamily PAREXOCOETINAE
Subfamily EXOCOETINAE
Subfamily CYPSELURINAE
Family HEMIRAMPHIDAE Halfbeaks (9 genera/subgenera • 64 species/subspecies)
Family ZENARCHOPTERIDAE Viviparous Halfbeaks (5 genera • 64 species/subspecies)
Family BELONIDAE Needlefishes (10 genera • 46 species/subspecies)
Family SCOMBERESOCIDAE Sauries (2 genera • 5 species)
Order CYPRINODONTIFORMES Killifishes (14 families • 198 genera/subgenera • 1,522 species/subspecies)
Suborder APLOCHEILOIDEI
Family APLOCHEILIDAE Asian and Malagasy Rivulines (2 genera • 16 species)
+ Family NOTHOBRANCHIIDAE African Rivulines (36 genera/subgenera • 341 species/subspecies)
Subfamily NOTHOBRANCHIINAE
Subfamily EPIPLATINAE
Family RIVULIDAE New World Rivulines (52 genera/subgenera • 489 species/subspecies)
Subfamily RIVULINAE
Subfamily KRYPTOLEBIATINAE Mangrove Killifishes
Subfamily CYNOLEBIINAE Pearl Killifishes
Suborder CYPRINODONTOIDEI
Family PANTANODONTIDAE Spine Killifishes (4 genera • 13 species)
+ Family CYPRINODONTIDAE Pupfishes (10 genera • 112 species/subspecies)
Subfamily CUBANICHTHYINAE Island Pupfishes
Subfamily CYPRINODONTINAE Pupfishes
Subfamily ORESTIINAE Andean Pupfishes
+ Family PROFUNDULIDAE Middle American Killifishes (2 genera • 14 species)
+ Family GOODEIDAE Goodeids (19 genera/subgenera • 53 species/subspecies)
Subfamily EMPETRICHTHYINAE Springfishes
Subfamily GOODEINAE Goodeids or Splitfins
+ Family FUNDULIDAE Topminnows (6 genera/subgenera • 46 species/subspecies)
+ Family FLUVIPHYLACIDAE American Lampeyes (1 genus • 8 species)
Family POECILIIDAE Poeciliids (39 genera/subgenera • 283 species/subspecies)
Subfamily XENODEXIINAE Grijalva Studfish
Subfamily TOMEURINAE
Subfamily POECILIINAE Livebearers
+ Family ANABLEPIDAE (4 genera/subgenera • 19 species)
Subfamily ANABLEPINAE Four-eyed fishes & Onesided Livebearers
Subfamily OXYZYGONECTINAE White-eye
+ Family VALENCIIDAE Valencia Toothcarps (1 genus • 3 species)
+ Family APHANIIDAE Eurasian Toothcarps (8 genera • 43 species/subspecies)
+ Family PROCATOPODIDAE African Lampeyes (14 genera • 82 species/subspecies)
Subfamily APLOCHEILICHTHYINAE
Subfamily PROCATOPODINAE
Series ANABANTARIA
–aria, pertaining to: Anabas, i.e., anabantoid fishes
Order SYNBRANCHIFORMES (4 families • 18 genera • 142 species/subspecies)
Suborder SYNBRANCHOIDEI
Family SYNBRANCHIDAE Swamp Eels (7 genera • 30 species)
Suborder MASTACEMBELOIDEI
Family CHAUDHURIIDAE Earthworm Eels (7 genera • 11 species)
Family MASTACEMBELIDAE Freshwater Spiny Eels (3 genera • 98 species/subspecies)
Suborder INDOSTOMOIDEI
Family INDOSTOMIDAE Armored Sticklebacks (1 genus • 3 species)
Order ANABANTIFORMES Labyrinth Fishes (8 families • 26 genera • 284 species)
Suborder ANABANTOIDEI
Family ANABANTIDAE Climbing Gouramies (4 genera • 33 species)
Family HELOSTOMATIDAE Kissing Gourami (monotypic)
Family OSPHRONEMIDAE Gouramies and Fighting Fishes (14 genera • 138 species)
Subfamily OSPHRONEMINAE Giant Gouramies
Subfamily BELONTIINAE Combtail Gouramies
Subfamily MACROPODUSINAE Fighting Fishes and Paradisefishes
Subfamily LUCIOCEPHALINAE Spiral Egg Gouramies
Subfamily TRICHOGASTRINAE Threadfins
Suborder CHANNOIDEI
Family AENIGMACHANNIDAE Gollum Snakehead Fish (monotypic)
Family CHANNIDAE Snakeheads (2 genera • 59 species)
Suborder NANDOIDEI
Family NANDIDAE Asian Leaffishes (1 genus • 8 species)
Family BADIDAE Chameleon Fishes (2 genera • 36 species)
Family PRISTOLEPIDIDAE Malayan Leaffishes or Mudperches (1 genus • 8 species)
Series CARANGARIA
Order CARANGIFORMES (31 families • 197 genera/subgenera • 1,113 species/subspecies)
Suborder CENTROPOMOIDEI
Family LATIDAE Giant Perches (3 genera • 14 species)
+ Family CENTROPOMIDAE Snooks (1 genus • 13 species)
+ Family LACTARIIDAE False Trevally (monotypic)
+ Family SPHYRAENIDAE Barracudas (1 genus • 27 species)
Suborder TOXOTOIDEI
+ Family LEPTOBRAMIDAE Beachsalmons (1 genus • 2 species)
+ Family TOXOTIDAE Archerfishes (2 genera • 9 species)
Suborder NEMATISTIOIDEI
+ Family NEMATISTIIDAE Roosterfish (monotypic)
Suborder MENOIDEI
+ Family MENIDAE Moonfish (monotypic)
+ Family XIPHIIDAE Swordfish (monotypic)
+ Family ISTIOPHORIDAE Billfishes and Marlins (5 genera • 10 species)
Suborder CARANGOIDEI
+ Family CORYPHAENIDAE Dolphinfishes (1 genus • 2 species)
+ Family RACHYCENTRIDAE Cobia (monotypic)
+ Family ECHENEIDAE Remoras or Sharksuckers (3 genera • 8 species)
+ Family CARANGIDAE Jacks and Pompanos (39 genera • 152 species/subspecies)
Subfamily TRACHINOTINAE
Subfamily SCOMBEROIDINAE
Subfamily NAUCRATINAE
Subfamily CARANGINAE
Suborder PLEURONECTOIDEI
Family POLYNEMIDAE Threadfins or Tasselfishes (8 genera • 43 species/subspecies)
+ Family PSETTODIDAE Spiny Turbots (1 genus • 3 species)
+ Family CITHARIDAE Largescale Flounders (5 genera • 6 species)
+ Family SCOPHTHALMIDAE Turbots (3 genera • 9 species)
+ Family BOTHIDAE Lefteye Flounders (20 genera • 170 species)
+ Family PARALICHTHYIDAE Sand Flounders (10 genera • 64 species)
+ Family CYCLOPSETTIDAE (4 genera • 46 species/subspecies)
+ Family PLEURONECTIDAE Righteye Flounders (24 genera • 64 species/subspecies)
Subfamily ATHERESTHINAE
Subfamily PLEURONICHTHYINAE
Subfamily MICROSTOMINAE Smallmouth Flounders
Subfamily HIPPOGLOSSINAE Halibuts
Subfamily PLEURONECTINAE True Flounders
Family ACHIRIDAE American Soles (6 genera • 36 species)
+ Family PARALICHTHODIDAE Peppered Flounder (monotypic)
+ Family RHOMBOSOLEIDAE South Pacific Flounders (8 genera • 20 species)
+ Family ACHIROPSETTIDAE Southern or Armless Flounders (4 genera • 4 species)
+ Family ONCOPTERIDAE Remo Flounder (monotypic)
+ Family SAMARIDAE Crested Flounders (4 genera • 30 species)
+ Family POECILOPSETTIDAE Bigeye Flounders (3 genera • 21 species)
Family SOLEIDAE Soles (30 genera • 182 species)
+ Family CYNOGLOSSIDAE Tonguefishes (4 genera • 171 species)
Subfamily SYMPHURINAE
Subfamily CYNOGLOSSINAE
Series SYNGNATHERIA
Order SYNGNATHIFORMES (10 families • 113 genera/subgenera • 698 species/subspecies)
Suborder SYNGNATHOIDEI
Family AULOSTOMIDAE Trumpetfishes (1 genus • 3 species)
+ Family CENTRISCIDAE Shrimpfishes and Snipefishes (5 genera • 13 species)
Subfamily CENTRISCINAE Shrimpfishes
Subfamily MACRORAMPHOSINAE Snipefishes
+ Family FISTULARIIDAE Cornetfishes (1 genus • 4 species)
+ Family SOLENOSTOMIDAE Ghost Pipefishes (1 genus • 6 species)
+ Family SYNGNATHIDAE Pipefishes and Seahorses (62 genera/subgenera • 333 species/subspecies)
Subfamily SYNGNATHINAE Tail-brooding Pipefishes and Seahorses (50 genera/subgenera • 265 species)
Subfamily NEROPHINAE Trunk-brooding Pipefishes (12 genera/subgenera • 68 species/subspecies)
Suborder DACTYLOPTEROIDEI
Family DACTYLOPTERIDAE Flying Gurnards (2 genera • 7 species)
+ Family PEGASIDAE Seamoths (2 genera • 8 species)
+ Suborder CALLIONYMOIDEI
+ Family CALLIONYMIDAE Dragonets (31 genera/subgenera • 202 species)
+ Family DRACONETTIDAE Sloped Dragonets (2 genera • 14 species)
+ Suborder MULLOIDEI
+ Family MULLIDAE Goatfishes (6 genera • 108 species/subspecies)
Series PELAGIARIA
–arius, pertaining to: referring to their occurrence in the pelagic realm. (Also known as Pelagia.)
Order SCOMBRIFORMES (16 families • 79 genera/subgenera • 294 species/subspecies)
Suborder ICOSTEOIDEI
Family ICOSTEIDAE Ragfish (monotypic)
Suborder SCOMBROLABRACOIDEI
+ Family SCOMBROLABRACIDAE Longfin Escolar (monotypic)
Suborder SCOMBROIDEI
+ Family GEMPYLIDAE Snake Mackerels (16 genera • 26 species)
+ Family TRICHIURIDAE Cutlassfishes (10 genera • 47 species)
Subfamily APHANOPODINAE
Subfamily LEPIDOPODINAE
Subfamily TRICHIURINAE Hairtails
+ Family SCOMBRIDAE Mackerels and Tunas (17 genera/subgenera • 57 species/subspecies)
Subfamily GASTEROCHISMATINAE Butterfly Kingfish
Subfamily SCOMBRINAE Mackerels, Bonitos and Tunas
Suborder STROMATEOIDEI
Family AMARSIPIDAE Amarispa (monotypic)
+ Family CENTROLOPHIDAE Medusafishes (8 genera • 30 species)
+ Family NOMEIDAE Driftfishes (3 genera • 18 species)
+ Family ARIOMMATIDAE Ariommas (1 genus • 8 species)
+ Family TETRAGONURIDAE Squaretails (1 genus • 3 species)
+ Family STROMATEIDAE Butterfishes (3 genera • 21 species)
Suborder Incertae sedis (Families listed in alphabetical order.)
+ Family ARRIPIDAE Australasian Salmons (1 genus • 4 species)
+ Family BRAMIDAE Pomfrets (7 genera • 20 species)
+ Family CARISTIIDAE Manefishes (4 genera • 18 species)
+ Family CHIASMODONTIDAE Swallowers (4 genera • 38 species/subspecies)
+ Family POMATOMIDAE Bluefish (monotypic)
Series EUPERCARIA
–arius, pertaining to: eu-, true, good or original; perca, perch, replacement name for Percomorpha (now relegated to Subdivision Percomorphaceae), representing the crown group of spiny rayed fishes, what Nelson (1989) called the “bush at the top”
Order LABRIFORMES (7 families • 126 genera/subgenera • 891 species/subspecies)
Family LABRIDAE Wrasses and Parrotfishes (100 genera/subgenera • 686 species)
Acantholabrus – Hologymnosus
Iniistius – Xyricthys
Family PINGUIPEDIDAE Sandperches (7 genera • 101 species)
+ Family CHEIMARRICHTHYIDAE New Zealand Torrentfish (monotypic)
+ Family AMMODYTIDAE Sand Lances (7 genera • 35 species)
+ Family URANOSCOPIDAE Stargazers (7 genera • 60 species)
+ Family LEPTOSCOPIDAE Southern Sandfishes (3 genera • 5 species)
+ Family CENTROGENYIDAE False Scorpionfish (1 genus • 3 species)
Order ACANTHURIFORMES (29 families • 276 genera/subgenera • 1,579 species/subspecies)
Family LOBOTIDAE Tripletails and Tigerperches (3 genera • 15 species)
+ Family POMACANTHIDAE Angelfishes (13 genera/subgenera • 90 species)
+ Family DREPANEIDAE Sicklefishes (1 genus • 3 species)
+ Family CHAETODONTIDAE Butterflyfishes (22 genera/subgenera • 138 species/subspecies)
Family EPHIPPIDAE Spadefishes and Batfishes (8 genera • 15 species)
+ Family LEIOGNATHIDAE Ponyfishes or Slipmouths (10 genera • 51 species)
Subfamily LEIOGNATHINAE
Subfamily GAZZINAE
+ Family SCATOPHAGIDAE Scats (2 genera • 4 species)
+ Family ANTIGONIIDAE (1 genus • 18 species/subspecies)
+ Family SIGANIDAE Rabbitfishes (1 genus & subgenus • 32 species/subspecies)
+ Family CAPROIDAE Boarfish (monotypic)
+ Family LUVARIDAE Luvars (one extant species)
+ Family ZANCLIDAE Moorish Idol (monotypic)
+ Family ACANTHURIDAE Surgeonfishes and Unicornfishes (7 genera/subgenera • 86 species/subspecies)
Family CALLANTHIIDAE Splendid Perches or Groppos (2 genera • 18 species)
+ Family DINOPERCIDAE Cavebasses (2 genera • 2 species)
+ Family EMMELICHTHYIDAE Rovers (3 genera • 18 species)
+ Family MALACANTHIDAE Tilefishes (5 genera • 46 species)
Subfamily MALACANTHINAE Sand Tilefishes
Subfamily LATINAE Tilefishes
+ Family MONODACTYLIDAE Moonfishes (2 genera • 6 species)
+ Family MORONIDAE Temperate Basses (2 genera • 6 species)
+ Family SILLAGINIDAE Sillagos (Whitings and Smelt Whitings) (6 genera/subgenera • 39 species)
+ Family PRIACANTHIDAE Bigeyes (4 genera • 22 species)
+ Family CEPOLIDAE Bandfishes (3 genera • 46 species)
Subfamily CEPOLINAE
Subfamily OWSTONIINAE
Family HAEMULIDAE Grunts (21 genera • 139 species/subspecies)
Subfamily HAEMULINAE
Subfamily PLECTORHINCHINAE
+ Family LUTJANIDAE Snappers and Fusiliers (26 genera • 138 species)
Subfamily ETELINAE
Subfamily APSILINAE
Subfamily PARADICICHTHYINAE
Subfamily LUTJANINAEE
Family SCIAENIDAE Drums or Croakers (72 genera/subgenera • 299 species)
Family GERREIDAE Mojarras (7 genera • 55 species)
+ Family LETHRINIDAE Emporerfishes and Large-eye Breams (5 genera • 46 species)
Subfamily LETHRININAE Emporerfishes
Subfamily MONOTAXINAE Large-eye Seabreams
+ Family NEMIPTERIDAE Threadfin Breams (5 genera • 78 species)
+ Family SPARIDAE Porgies and Seabreams (39 genera • 166 species/subspecies)
Order LOPHIIFORMES Anglerfishes (21 families • 76 genera/subgenera • 413 species)
Suborder LOPHIOIDEI
Family LOPHIIDAE Goosefishes (4 genera • 34 species)
Suborder ANTENNARIOIDEI
+ Family RHYCHERIDAE Balrog Frogfishes (1 genus • 2 species)
+ Family ANTENNARIIDAE Fibonacci Frogfishes (6 genera • 32 species)
+ Family HISTIOPHRYNIDAE Star-fingered Frogfishes (7 genera • 17 species)
+ Family TATHICARPIDAE Longfin Frogfish (monotypic)
+ Family TETRABRACHIIDAE (2 genera • 2 species)
+ Family LOPHICHTHYIDAE Arafura Frogfish (monotypic)
+ Family BRACHIONICHTHYIDAE Handfishes or Warty Anglers (5 genera • 14 species)
Suborder CHAUNACOIDEI
+ Family CHAUNACIDAE Coffinfishes or Sea Toads (2 genera • 33 species)
Suborder OGCOCEPHALOIDEI
+ Family OGCOCEPHALIDAE Batfishes (10 genera • 98 species)
Suborder CERATIOIDEI
Family CAULOPHRYNIDAE Fanfins (2 genera • 5 species)
+ Family NEOCERATIIDAE Spiny Seadevil (monotypic)
+ Family MELANOCETIDAE Black Seadevils (1 genus • 6 species)
+ Family HIMANTOLOPHIDAE Footballfishes (1 genus • 23 species)
+ Family DICERATIIDAE Double Anglers (2 genera • 7 species)
+ Family ONEIRODIDAE Dreamers (16 genera • 71 species)
+ Family THAUMATICHTHYIDAE Wolftrap Anglers (2 genera • 9 species)
+ Family CENTROPHRYNIDAE Prickly Seadevil (monotypic)
+ Family CERATIIDAE Warty Seadevils (2 genera • 4 species)
+ Family GIGANTACTINIDAE Whipnose Anglers (2 genera • 25 species)
+ Family LINOPHRYNIDAE Leftvents (7 genera/subgenera • 27 species)
Order TETRAODONTIFORMES Plectognaths (10 families • 104 genera • 438 species)
Suborder TRIODONTOIDEI
Family TRIODONTIDAE Threetooth Puffers (one extant species)
Suborder TRIACANTHOIDEI
+ Family TRIACANTHIDAE Triplespines (4 genera • 7 species)
Suborder TRIACANTHODOIDEI
+ Family TRIACANTHODIDAE Spikefishes (11 genera • 24 species)
Suborder TETRAODONTOIDEI
+ Family DIODONTIDAE Porcupinefishes or Burrfishes (7 genera • 19 species)
+ Family TETRAODONTIDAE Puffers (27 genera • 196 species)
Subfamily TETRAODONTINAE
Subfamily CANTHIGASTRINAE Sharpnose Puffers or Tobies
Suborder MOLOIDEI
Family MOLIDAE Molas or Ocean Sunfishes (3 genera • 5 species)
Suborder BALISTOIDEI
+ Family BALISTIDAE Triggerfishes (12 genera • 40 species)
+ Family MONACANTHIDAE Filefishes (27 genera • 109 species)
Suborder OSTRACIOIDEI
+ Family ARACANIDAE Deepwater Boxfishes (6 genera • 13 species)
+ Family OSTRACIIDAE Boxfishes (Cowfishes and Trunkfishes) (6 genera • 24 species)
Order ACROPOMATIFORMES (20 families • 56 genera • 309 species/subspecies)
Family SCOMBROPIDAE Gnomefishes (1 genus • 3 species)
Family CHAMPSODONTIDAE Gapers (1 genus • 13 species)
Family CREEDIIDAE Sandburrowers (8 genera • 19 species)
Family HEMEROCOETIDAE Signalfishes (8 genera • 27 species)
Family HOWELLIDAE Oceanic Basslets (3 genera • 10 species)
Family SYNAGROPIDAE Splitfin Ocean-Basses (4 genera • 17 species)
Family MALAKICHTHYIDAE Temperate Ocean-Basses (3 genera • 17 species)
Family ACROPOMATIDAE Lanternbellies (2 genera • 13 species)
Family SYMPHYSANODONTIDAE Slopefishes (2 genera • 13 species)
Family EPIGONIDAE Deepwater Cardinalfishes (6 genera • 50 species)
Family POLYPRIONIDAE Wreckfishes (1 genus • 2 species)
Family STEREOLEPIDIDAE Giant Sea Basses (1 genus • 2 species)
Family LATEOLABRACIDAE Asian Seaperches (1 genus • 3 species)
Family GLAUCOSOMATIDAE Pearl Perches (1 genus • 4 species)
Family PEMPHERIDAE Sweepers (2 genera • 85 species)
Family BATHYCLUPEIDAE Deepwater Herrings (2 genera • 10 species)
Family PENTACEROTIDAE Armorheads (7 genera • 13 species)
Subfamily HISTIOPTERINAE Sailfin Armorheads
Subfamily PENTACEROTINAE
Family OSTRACOBERYCIDAE Shellskin Alfonsinos (1 genus • 3 species)
Family BANJOSIDAE Banjofishes (1 genus • 4 species/subspecies)
Family DINOLESTIDAE Long-finned Pike (monotypic)
Order CENTRARCHIFORMES (20 families • 79 genera/subgenera • 310 species/subspecies)
Family CENTRARCHIDAE Freshwater Sunfishes and Black Basses (9 genera/subgenera • 44 species/subspecies)
Subfamily CENTRARCHINAE
Subfamily LEPOMINAE
Family ELASSOMATIDAE Pygmy Sunfishes (1 genus • 7 species)
Family ENOPLOSIDAE Oldwife (monotypic)
Family SINIPERCIDAE Chinese Perches (2 genera • 14 species)
Family APLODACTYLIDAE Marblefishes (1 genus • 5 species)
Family CHEILODACTYLIDAE Morwongs (1 genus • 2 species)
Family CHIRONEMIDAE Kelpfishes (1 genus • 6 species)
Family CIRRHITIDAE Hawkfishes (12 genera • 36 species/subspecies)
Family LATRIDAE Trumpeters (9 genera • 32 species)
Family PERCICHTHYIDAE Temperate Perches (9 genera • 27 species)
Family DICHISTIIDAE Galjoens (1 genus • 2 species)
Family GIRELLIDAE Nibblers (2 genera • 21 species)
Family KUHLIIDAE Flagtails or Aholeholes (1 genera • 13 species)
Family KYPHOSIDAE Sea Chubs (2 genera • 12 species)
Family OPLEGNATHIDAE Knifejaws (1 genus • 7 species)
Family TERAPONTIDAE Grunters or Tigerfishes (16 genera • 62 species)
Family MICROCANTHIDAE Stripeys (4 genera • 6 species)
Family SCORPIDIDAE Halfmoons (4 genera • 11 species)
Family PARASCORPIDIDAE Jutjaw (monotypic)
Family CAESIOSCORPIDIDAE Blowhole Perch (monotypic)
Order PERCIFORMES (68 families • 619 genera/subgenera • 3,318 species/subspecies)
Suborder BEMBROPOIDEI
Family BEMBROPIDAE Duckbills (2 genera • 24 species)
Suborder NORMANICHTHYOIDEI
Family NORMANICHTHYIDAE Mote Sculpin (Barehead Scorpionfish) (monotypic)
Suborder SERRANOIDEI (5 families • 73 genera • 608 species/subspecies)
Family SERRANIDAE Sea Basses (12 genera • 107 species/subspecies)
+ Family ANTHIADIDAE Anthias and Fairy Basslets (32 genera • 249 species)
Family EPINEPHELIDAE Groupers (16 genera • 191 species)
+ Family LIOPROPOMATIDAE
Subfamily LIOPROPOMATINAE Painted Basslets (4 genera • 38 species)
Subfamily DIPLOPRIONINAE Barred Soapfishes (3 genera • 5 species)
+ Family GRAMMISTIDAE Soapfishes (6 genera • 18 species)
Suborder PERCOIDEI (3 families • 40 genera/subgenera • 270 species/subspecies)
Family NIPHONIDAE Ara Grouper (monotypic)
+ Family PERCIDAE Perches and Darters (37 genera/subgenera • 260 species/subspecies)
Subfamily PERCINAE Freshwater Perches
Subfamily LUCIOPERCINAE Pikeperches and Danube Perches
Subfamily ETHEOSTOMATINAE North American Darters
+ Family TRACHINIDAE Weeverfishes (2 genera • 9 species)
Suborder NOTOTHENIOIDEI (8 families • 49 genera • 167 species/subspecies)
Family BOVICHTIDAE Temperate Icefishes (3 genera • 12 species)
+ Family PSEUDAPHRITIDAE Congolli (monotypic)
+ Family ELEGINOPIDAE Patagonian Blenny (monotypic)
+ Family NOTOTHENIIDAE Cod Icefishes (15 genera • 66 species/subspecies)
Subfamily PLEURAGRAMMATINAE
Subfamily NOTOTHENIINAE
Subfamily TREMATOMINAE
+ Family HARPAGIFERIDAE Plunderfishes (6 genera • 47 species)
Subfamily HARPAGIFERINAE Spiny Plunderfishes
Subfamily ARTEDIDRACONIDAE Barbled Plunderfishes
+ Family BATHYDRACONIDAE Antarctic Plunderfishes (11 genera • 18 species)
+ Family CHANNICHTHYIDAE Crocodile Icefishes (11 genera • 21 species)
+ Family PERCOPHIDAE Brazilian Flathead (monotypic)
Suborder SCORPAENOIDEI Mail-cheeked Fishes (14 families • 117 genera/subgenera • 560 species/subspecies)
Family SEBASTIDAE Rockfishes and Rockcods (28 genera/subgenera • 136 species/subspecies)
Subfamily SEBASTINAE Rockfishes
Subfamily SEBASTOLOBINAE Thornyheads
+ Family SETARCHIDAE Deepsea Bristly Scorpionfishes (4 genera • 12 species)
+ Family NEOSEBASTIDAE Gurnard Scorpionfishes (2 genera • 18 species)
Family SCORPAENIDAE Scorpionfishes (28 genera • 241 species/subspecies)
Subfamily SCORPAENINAE Scorpionfishes
Subfamily CARACANTHINAE Coral Crunchers
Subfamily PTEROINAE Turkeyfishes and Lionfishes
Family APISTIDAE Wasp Scorpionfishes (3 genera • 3 species)
+ Family TETRAROGIDAE Waspfishes (17 genera • 44 species)
+ Family SYNANCEIIDAE Stonefishes (9 genera • 38 species)
Subfamily MINOINAE Stingfishes
Subfamily CHORIDACTYLINAE Stingers
Subfamily SYNANCEIINAE Stonefishes
+ Family APLOACTINIDAE Velvetfishes (17 genera • 50 species)
+ Family PERRYENIDAE Whitenose Pigfish (monotypic)
+ Family ESCHMEYERIDAE Cofish (monotypic)
+ Family PATAECIDAE Australian Prowfishes (3 genera • 3 species)
+ Family GNATHANACANTHIDAE Red Velvetfish (monotypic)
+ Family CONGIOPODIDAE Racehorses or Pigfishes (1 genus • 6 species)
+ Family ZANCLORHYNCHIDAE Horsefishes (2 genera • 6 species/subspecies)
Suborder PLATYCEPHALOIDEI Flatheads (5 families • 24 genera • 128 species)
Family BEMBRIDAE Deepwater Flatheads (3 genera • 9 species)
+ Family PARABEMBRIDAE (1 genus • 3 species)
+ Family PLATYCEPHALIDAE Flatheads (17 genera • 86 species)
+ Family HOPLICHTHYIDAE Ghost Flatheads (1 genus • 17 species)
+ Family PLECTROGENIIDAE Stinger Flatheads (2 genera • 13 species)
Suborder TRIGLOIDEI Searobins (2 families • 18 genera/subgenera • 179 species)
Family TRIGLIDAE Searobins or Gurnards (12 genera/subgenera • 134 species)
Subfamily PRIONOTINAE
Subfamily PTERYGOTRIGLINAE
Subfamily TRIGLINAE
+ Family PERISTEDIIDAE Armored Searobins (6 genera • 45 species)
Suborder COTTOIDEI (29 families • 295 genera/subgenera • 1,381 species/subspecies)
Infraorder ANOPLOPOMATALES
Family ANOPLOPOMATIDAE Sablefishes (2 genera • 2 species)
Infraorder ZOARCALES (14 families • 113 genera/subgenera • 432 species/subspecies)
Family ZOARCIDAE Eelpouts (61 genera/subgenera • 313 species)
Subfamily LYCODINAE
Subfamily LYCOZOARCINAE
Subfamily ZOARCINAE Eelpouts
Subfamily GYMNELINAE Pouts
Family ANARHICHADIDAE Wolffishes (2 genera • 6 species/subspecies)
+ Family NEOZOARCIDAE Kissing Eelpouts (2 genera • 10 species)
+ Family EULOPHIIDAE (3 genera • 5 species)
+ Family STICHAEIDAE Pricklebacks (17 genera • 40 species/subspecies)
Subfamily STICHAEINAE
Subfamily CHIROLOPHINAE
Subfamily ALECTRIINAE Cockscombs
+ Family LUMPENIDAE Eel Pricklebacks (8 genera • 11 species)
+ Family OPISTHOCENTRIDAE Rearspined Pricklebacks (6 genera • 12 species)
+ Family PHOLIDAE Gunnels (4 genera • 15 species)
Subfamily PHOLINAE
Subfamily APODICHTHYINAE
+ Family PTILICHTHYIDAE Quillfish (monotypic)
+ Family ZAPRORIDAE Prowfish (monotypic)
+ Family CRYPTACANTHODIDAE Wrymouths (1 genus • 4 species)
+ Family CEBIDICHTHYIDAE Monkeyface Pricklebacks (3 genera • 6 species)
+ Family SCYTALINIDAE Graveldiver (monotypic)
+ Family BATHYMASTERIDAE Ronquils (3 genera • 7 species)
Infraorder GASTEROSTEALES (3 families • 8 genera • 27 species/subspecies)
Family HYPOPTYCHIDAE Sand-eel and Korean Sandlance (2 genera • 2 species)
+ Family AULORHYNCHIDAE Tubesnout (monotypic)
+ Family GASTEROSTEIDAE Sticklebacks (5 genera • 24 species/subspecies)
Infraorder ZANIOLEPIDOALES
Family ZANIOLEPIDIDAE Combfishes (1 genus • 2 species)
Infraorder HEXAGRAMMALES
Family HEXAGRAMMIDAE Greenlings (4 genera • 10 species)
Subfamily HEXAGRAMMINAE Greenlings
Subfamily PLEUROGRAMMINAE Atka Mackerels
Subfamily OPHIODONTINAE Lingcod
Subfamily OXYLEBIINAE Painted Greenling
Infraorder COTTALES (9 families • 167 genera/subgenera • 908 species/subspecies)
Family TRICHODONTIDAE Sandfishes (2 genera • 2 species)
+ Family JORDANIIDAE Longfin Sculpin and Thornback Sculpin (2 genera • 2 species)
+ Family RHAMPHOCOTTIDAE Grunt Sculpins (3 genera • 5 species)
+ Family SCORPAENICHTHYIDAE Cabezon (monotypic)
+ Family AGONIDAE Poachers and Searavens (26 genera/subgenera • 63 species)
Subfamily HEMILEPIDOTINAE Irish Lords
Subfamily HEMITRIPTERINAE Searavens
Subfamily BATHRAGONINAE Rockheads
Subfamily HYPSAGONINAE Dragon Poachers
Subfamily ANOPLAGONINAE Alligator Fishes
Subfamily BRACHYOPSINAE Uppermouth Poachers
Subfamily AGONINAE Sturgeon Poachers
Family COTTIDAE Sculpins (77 genera/subgenera • 307 species/subspecies)
Subfamily COTTINAE Sculpins
Subfamily MYOXOCEPHALINAE
Subfamily COMEPHORINAE Baikal Oilfishes
Family PSYCHROLUTIDAE Fathead Sculpins (9 genera • 39 species)
Subfamily COTTUNCULINAE
Subfamily PSYCHROLUTINAE
+ Family CYCLOPTERIDAE Lumpfishes (6 genera • 32 species)
Subfamily CYCLOPTERINAE Lumpsucker
Subfamily LIPAROPSINAE Smooth Lumpsucker
Subfamily EUMICROTREMINAE Spiny Lumpsuckers
Family LIPARIDAE Snailfishes (41 genera/subgenera • 457 species/subspecies)