Gonorynchiformes
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Gonorynchiformes Fossil range: Early Cretaceous - Recent
Milkfish, Chanos chanos
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Superorder: Ostariophysi Order: Gonorynchiformes
Families
Chanidae (milkfish) Gonorynchidae (beaked salmons) Kneriidae (shellears) Phractolaemidae (hingemouths)

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]

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. ^ ^{a b} Nelson, Joseph, S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. ISBN 0471250317. 

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