26-418: Gonorynchiformes 37 Cypriniformes 4,501 Characiformes 2,168 Gymnotiformes 239 Siluriformes 3,813 Ostariophysi is the second-largest superorder of fish . Members of this superorder are called ostariophysians . This diverse group contains 10,758 species, about 28% of known fish species in the world and 68% of freshwater species, and are present on all continents except Antarctica . They have
52-435: A deeply forked caudal fin. Usually, three pairs of barbels are present. They possess some bony plates on their heads and near their dorsal fins. Some species have venomous spines in their dorsal and pectoral fins. The gafftopsail catfish is sometimes called the "crucifix catfish" because its dried skull bones resembles a cruciform man. This is an example of pareidolia . Beyond their maritime habitat, ariid catfish have
78-402: A number of common characteristics such as an alarm substance and a Weberian apparatus . Members of this group include fish important to people for food, sport, the aquarium industry, and research. The superorder is divided into two series, Anotophysi and Otophysi . However, in older literature, Ostariophysi was restricted only to the fish that are currently classified under Otophysi. Otophysi
104-504: A number of unique adaptations that set them apart from other catfish. Most, if not all species, are mouthbrooding fish, with the male carrying a small clutch of a few dozen, tiny eggs for about two months until the eggs hatch and the fry become free-swimming. One well-known ariid catfish is the hardhead catfish , Ariopsis felis , abundant along the Western Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Mexico. Although hardhead catfish reach
130-453: A primitive Weberian apparatus formed by the first three vertebrae and one or more cephalic ribs within the head. This apparatus is believed to be a hearing organ, and is found in a more advanced and complex form in the related cypriniform fish, such as carp . Also like the cypriniforms, the gonorynchiforms produce a substance from their skin when injured that dissolves into the water and acts an alarm signal to other fish. Although many of
156-400: A silvery peritoneal tunic. A larger posterior chamber may be reduced or absent in some groups. Minute, unicellular, horny projections known as "unculi" are commonly present on various body parts and are only known from ostariophysians. Many ostariophysians have the characteristic of an alarm substance that is part of a fright reaction. This is a pheromone produced in epidermal club cells, and
182-427: A weight of about 5.5 kg (12 lb) and are edible, they have a mixed reputation as game fish and are often considered nuisance bait stealers. A less-abundant species, more highly regarded as a game and food fish, is the gafftopsail catfish , Bagre marinus . The range of the gafftop extends further south, to Venezuela. The smaller ariid catfishes have minor value as public and home aquarium fish. In 1972,
208-628: A wide variety of different fishes in a plethora of niches . It contains one of the largest freshwater fish ever caught, the Mekong giant catfish , which can weigh up to about 300 kilograms (660 lb). It also contains a number of species considered to be some of the smallest vertebrates extant; Danionella translucida at 12 millimetres (0.47 in) in length, and Paedocypris progenetica at 10.3 millimetres (0.41 in). Some of these fish are able to breathe atmospheric oxygen when in hypoxic waters ( Clariidae ), which may allow them to live outside of
234-535: Is cosmopolitan due to subsequent dispersal. Ostariophysi is the second largest superorder of teleosts . It includes five major lineages and is a very diverse group. As of 2006 (Nelson), the five orders contain 1,075 genera in 64 families and about 7,931 species, which is about 28% of all known fish species. The four largest families in this group ( Cyprinidae , Characidae , Loricariidae , and Balitoridae ) include 4,656 species, over half (59%) of ostariophysian species. The carp and minnow family Cyprinidae itself
260-577: Is evidence for a sister group relationship between Ostariophysi and Clupeomorpha (the taxon Ostarioclupeomorpha , also known as Otocephala , was coined to describe this possibly monophyletic group). Ostariophysian fossils, both anotophysan and otophysian, are known from the early Cretaceous . Ostariophysian fossils are known from every continent except Australia . Ostariophysians are currently distributed worldwide on all continents except Antarctica . The common ancestor of this group entered fresh water about 251 million years ago coincident with
286-410: Is similar or identical in all ostariophysians. When the fish is injured, this pheromone is released; other fish of the same species or similar species can smell this pheromone, causing a fright reaction. However, some fish possess the alarm substance without the fright reaction or lack both the alarm substance and the fright reaction to the alarm substance. In otophysians, one of the main characteristics
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#1732848510276312-449: Is the Weberian apparatus . Apart from this structure, there is no other trait that could explain the success of otophysians. It is made up of a set of bones known as Weberian ossicles , a chain of small bones that connect the auditory system to the gas bladder of fishes. The ossicles connect the gas bladder wall with Y-shaped lymph sinus that abuts the lymph-filled transverse canal joining
338-439: Is the largest freshwater fish family and the largest family of vertebrates after the true gobies of Gobiidae . Ostariophysians account for about 68% of all freshwater species; in fact, there are only about 123 marine species ( Chanidae , Gonorynchidae , most Ariidae , about half of Plotosidae ). They are present on all continents and major land masses except Antarctica , Greenland , and New Zealand . This group includes
364-586: Is the only genus in the subfamily Bagreinae , while the rest of the genera are classified in the subfamily Ariinae. Previously, the family Ariidae has been grouped in the superfamily Doradoidea, but then it was moved into Bagroidea (along with Austroglanididae , Claroteidae , Schilbeidae , Pangasiidae , Bagridae , Malapteruridae , and Pimelodidae . It has also been classified in a superfamily Arioidea containing Ariidae and Anchariidae. Ariids are found worldwide in tropical to warm temperate zones. Ariids are unusual among catfish in that they live primarily in
390-504: The Late Cretaceous ( Campanian and Maastrichtian ) of Argentina , which are among the oldest known remains of siluroid catfish. The relationships of this family are not yet clear. Two of the genera , Gogo and Ancharius , have been moved to a separate family called Anchariidae . The Ariidae are divided into three subfamilies: Galeichthys is the only genus classified in the subfamily Galeichthyinae and similarly Bagre
416-530: The sea ; the majority of catfish families are strictly freshwater and have little tolerance for brackish or marine conditions. Ariid catfish are found in shallow temperate and tropical seas around the coastlines of North and South America , Africa , Asia , and Australia . Many other species of catfish are also present in freshwater habitats; some species only occur in freshwater. In North and South America, about 43 species extend into brackish water or are found exclusively in fresh water. Ariid catfish have
442-488: The water column entirely ( Phreatobius cisternarum and Tarumania walkerae ). The families Malapteruridae and Gymnotidae have the ability to produce strong electric charges; they are considered among the prototypical electric fishes . Most species possess a swim bladder (except in Gonorynchus ). The swim bladder is usually divided into two chambers. A smaller anterior chamber is partially or completely covered by
468-552: The breakup of Gondwana into South America and Africa in the Aptian (c. 110 Ma) but the presence of several basal Siluriphysan taxa in modern South America (Gymnotiformes, Diplomystidae, Loricaridea) suggest that the Siluriphysi may have originated on the western portion of Gondwana. Alternatively, these basal taxa have subsequently become extinct in Africa. The modern distribution of Siluriformes
494-524: The extant taxa in this order as follows, as does Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes : Order Gonorynchiformes Greenwood, Rosen, Weitzman , and Myers , 1966 Ariidae The Ariidae or ariid catfish are a family of catfish that mainly live in marine waters with many freshwater and brackish water species. They are found worldwide in tropical to warm temperate zones. The family includes about 143 species. Fossilized pectoral spines and skull bone fragments of ariid catfish are known from
520-460: The families are rather small, there are several fossil genera. This listing of the groups of Gonorynchiformes includes fossil fish with a short description. They are listed in approximate order of how primitive their characteristics are. Gonorynchus Chanos Phractolaemus Kneria Parakneria Cromeria Grasseichthys The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies
546-552: The global decrease in oxygen levels in marine waters. The Otophysi originated in freshwaters during the Jurassic (c. 200-145 Ma) before the breakup of the super continent Pangea. The division of the Otophysi into the four extant clades closely follows the breakup of Pangea. The separation of Laurasia in the north from Gondwana in the south isolated the lineages which gave rise to the modern Cyprinoformes and Characiphysi. The Characiphysi then
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#1732848510276572-414: 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
598-483: The sacculi of the right and left ears. This allows the transmission of vibrations to the inner ear. In anotophysians, the three first vertebrae are specialized and associated with one or more cephalic ribs (a primitive Weberian apparatus). In the otophysians, a distinct modification of the anterior four or five first vertebrae is found, as well as the Weberian ossicles. The fully functioning Weberian apparatus consists of
624-565: The swim bladder, the Weberian ossicles, a portion of the anterior vertebral column, and some muscles and ligaments. It is named after the German anatomist and physiologist Ernst Heinrich Weber who first described the Weberian ossicles. Gonorynchiformes Chanidae (milkfish) Gonorynchidae (beaked salmons) Kneriidae (shellears) Phractolaemidae (hingemouths) The Gonorynchiformes / ɡ ɒ n ə ˈ r ɪ ŋ k ɪ f ɔːr m iː z / are an order of ray-finned fish that includes
650-466: Was coined in 1970 by Rosen and Greenwood to separate the traditional Ostariophysians from the added Gonorynchiformes. The superorder is classified below: The monophyly of Ostariophysi has come into question with molecular evidence. Gonorynchiformes is more closely related to Clupeiformes than Otophysi. It is possible that the Gonorynchiformes and Clupeiformes form a monophyletic group. There
676-414: Was itself divided into the diurnal (day-active) Characiformes and the nocturnal (night-active) Siluriphysi, including Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes. Modern Characiformes are present in both South America and Africa, and have relatively recently extended their range to North America. The Siluriphysi are characterized by many derived traits, including notably, electroreception. The Siluriphysi originated before
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