| Ophidiiformes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fawn cusk-eel, Lepophidium profundorum
|
||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Carapidae Ophidiidae Bythitidae Aphyonidae Parabrotulidae |
Ophidiiformes is an order of ray-finned fish that includes the cusk eels (family Ophidiidae), pearlfishes (family Carapidae), brotulas (family Bythitidae), and others.
This order includes a variety of deep-sea species, including the deepest known, Abyssobrotula galatheae, found at 8,370 m in the Puerto Rico Trench.
The families Ranicipitidae (tadpole cods) and Euclichthyidae (eucla cods) were formerly classified in this order, but are now preferred in Gadiformes; Ranicipitidae has been absorbed within the family Gadidae.
References
- J.G. Nielsen, D.M. Cohen, D.M. Markle, C.R. Robins, Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes): An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date (FAO, 1999)
- "Ophidiiformes". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. February 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Ophidiiformes (TSN 553139). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on June 23, 2005.