GONORYNCHIFORMES

'Gonorynchiformes' is an order of ray-finned fish that includes the important food source, the milkfish (''Chanos chanos'', family Chanidae), and a number of lesser-known types, both marine and freshwater.
The alternate spelling "Gonorhynchiformes", with an "h", is frequently seen but not official.
Gonorynchiformes have small mouths and no teeth. They are the sole group in the clade Anotophysi, a subgroup of the superorder Ostariophysi. They are characterized by a primitive Weberian apparatus formed by the first three vertebrae and one or more cephalic ribs.^[1]

Contents

Taxonomy

References

Taxonomy

Although many of the families are currently rather small, there are several fossil genera. Here is a listing of the groups of Gonorynchiformes including fossil fish with a short description.^[1] They are listed in approximate order of how primitive their characteristics are.
Order 'Sorbininardiformes' (extinct)
:: Family 'Sorbininardidae' (extinct)
:::: ''Sorbininardus'' (extinct) - sister group to all other Gonorynchiformes
Order 'Gonorynchiformes'
: Suborder 'Chanoidei'
:::: ''Aethalinopsis'' (extinct) - sister group to Chanidae from Early Cretaceous.
:: Family 'Chanidae' - milkfishes
::: Subfamily 'Rubiesichthyinae' (extinct)
:::: ''Gordichthys'' (extinct) - Early Cretaceous Chanid
:::: ''Rubiesichthys'' (extinct) - Early Cretaceous Chanid
::: Subfamily 'Chaninae'
:::: ''Chanos''
:::: ''Dastilbe'' (extinct) - Early Cretaceous Chanid
:::: ''Parachanos'' (extinct) - Early Cretaceous Chanid
:::: ''Tharrhias'' (extinct) - Early Cretaceous Chanid
: Suborder 'Gonorynchoidei' - beaked sandfishes
:::: ''Apulichthys'' (extinct) - primitive sister group to Gonorynchoids.
:: Family 'Gonorynchidae'
:::: ''Notogoneus'' (extinct) - from North America, Europe, Australia; some freshwater; Late Cretaceous to Oligocene; sister group to ''Gonorynchus''
:::: ''Charitosomus'' (extinct) - Cretaceous Gonorynchid
:::: ''Judeichthys'' (extinct)
:::: ''Ramallichthys'' (extinct)
:::: ''Charitopsis'' (extinct)
:::: ''Gonorynchus''
: Suborder 'Knerioidei'
:: Family 'Kneriidae'
:::: ''Cromeria''
:::: ''Grasseichthys''
:::: ''Kneria''
:::: ''Parakneria''
:: Family 'Phractolaemidae'
:::: ''Phractolaemus''

References

1. Fishes of the World, , Joseph, S., Nelson, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2006, ISBN 0471250317
2. Fishes of the World, , Joseph, S., Nelson, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2006, ISBN 0471250317