Fish Classification: What Phylum Or Class Are They In?

There are about 28,100 species of fishes known to science.

They are divided into 4 classes, 59 orders, 490 families and 4,300 or so genera.

The classification system of fish is not stagnant and it will change when we have more knowledge, perhaps from DNA analyses. For ordinary purpose, however, the system I have used on these pages will be sufficient for many years. It is based on Fishes of The World (3rd Edition) by Joseph S. Nelson, 1994.

You can skip ahead to particular classes using these links, or otherwise read on:

Introduction

Welcome to this brief introduction to fish classification.

There are a few problems with the classification of fish. The first of which is the question “What is a fish?”.

We all use the word Fish regularly, but the term fish is not a natural group of animals in the way the terms Reptiles or Birds are.

When scientists arrange living things into groups for classification they try to make the classification system they use represent the actual relationships between those living things. The more categories that two organisms share the more closely they are related.

All living things are divided up into a series of classifications delineated as: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and species. You can also have Super and Sub attached to each group so that a Superclass can contain several Classes, each of which itself contains several Subclasses. Subclasses then contain Superorders which contain Orders, etc.

So you see we can end up with a lot of different terms, which is good because there are a lot of living things.

The term ‘Fish’ does not fit into any of these categories. This is because it is a general term, not a scientific one. We all know that a Trout or a Salmon is a fish. However some of the animals we commonly call fish are not much more closely related to Salmon and Trout than they are to Dogs and Cats.

The term fish is actually used to describe any animal that is part of the Subphylum Vertebrata, but is not a member of the Classes Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves (Birds) or Mammalia.

The Subphylum Vertebrata contains two Superclasses, Agnatha and Gnathostomata:

  • Superclass Agnatha contains only two Classes of animals, both of which come under the general term of fish.
  • Superclass Gnathostomata contains six Classes of animals, two of which are also included in the general term of fish.

Higher Classification of the Phylum Chordata

PhylumSubphylumSuperclassClassCommon Name
ChordataUrochordataTunicates
ChordataCephalochordataLancelets
ChordataVertebrataAgnathaMyxiniHagfish (Fish)
ChordataVertebrataAgnathaCephalspidomorphiLampreys (Fish)
ChordataVertebrataGnathostomataChondrichthyesSharks and Rays etc. (Fish)
ChordataVertebrataGnathostomataOsteichthyesTrout and Salmon etc. (Fish)
ChordataVertebrataGnathostomataAmphibiaAmphibians
ChordataVertebrataGnathostomataReptiliaSnakes, Turtles etc.
ChordataVertebrataGnathostomataAvesBirds
ChordataVertebrataGnathostomataMammaliaCats, Cows and People

The animals we commonly refer to as fish then can be seen to be included in 4 classes of animals, that are as different from each other as Birds are from Reptiles. But because they all live in the sea, they get lumped together.

Below is a list of all the families of animals we call fish. If you want an entire checklist for the world, or to research a particular species, you need to visit www.fishbol.org.

When talking about and reading about species of fish when only a common name is given, you need to be careful.

Many people know that Bonito is a type of tuna. However in Fishbol 2004, we find that all the following 20 species are all called Bonito somewhere in the world:

Abramites eques, Auxis rochei rochei, Auxis thazard thazard, Caranx crysos, Cybiosarda elegans, Euthynnus affinis, Euthynnus alletteratus, Euthynnus lineatus, Gymnosarda unicolo, Katsuwonus pelamis, Megalaspis cordyla, Orcynopsis unicolor, Rachycentron canadum, Sarda australis, Sarda chiliensis chiliensis, Sarda chiliensis lineolata, Sarda orientalis, Sarda sarda, Selar boops, Thunnus alalunga.

This is not just a list of the different species called bonito in different parts of the world. In many countries more than one species is known as Bonito.

In fact, in England, Australia and Cuba the term Bonito applies to 3 different species. In Kenya, Namibia, Brazil and Germany it applies to 4 different species. In Colombia and Mexico, Bonito includes 5 species and in the USA the name Bonito is applied to 10 different species.

When you add to this the fact that the same species is also called different names in different countries, the problem of knowing exactly what species a common name refers to can get quite difficult. For Instance:- Katsuwonus pelamis is:

  • Striped bonito, Ocean Bonito, Oceanic Bonito, Arctic Bonito and Bonito in the USA,
  • Striped-bellied Bonito, Striped Bonito, Oceanic Bonito, Atlantic Bonito and Bonito in England,
  • Bauchstreifiger Bonito in Germany,
  • Bonitol, Bonito de altura, Bonito de veintre rayado and Bonito del sur in Spain,
  • Bonito, Bonito de barriga listada, Bonito-de-barriga-riscada, Bonito de veintre rayado, Bonito-oceānico and Bonito rajado in Brazil,
  • White Bonito in both Barbados and Suriname

The term ‘Bonito’ is also used in Cape Verde, Sri Lanka, Dominican Republic, French Polynesia, India, Namibia, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Venezuela and more.

Katsuwonus pelamis has many more names than I have listed here. But I think this is enough to illustrate my point on the unreliability of common names – particularly for marine or other widely distributed species.

Class Myxini & Cephalaspidomorphi

OrderFamilyCommon Names
PetromyzontiformesPetromyzontidaeNorthern Lampreys
PetromyzontiformesGeotriidaePouched Lampreys
PetromyzontiformesMordaciidaeShorthead Lampreys
MyxiniformesMyxinidaeHagfish

Class Chondrichthyes

OrderFamilyCommon Names
HexachiformesChlamydoselachidaeFrill Skark
HexachiformesHexanchidaeSixgill and Sevengill Sharks
SqualiformesEchinorhinidaeBramble Sharks
SqualiformesSqualidaeDogfish Sharks
SqualiformesOxynotidaeRough Sharks
PristiophoriformesPristiophoridaeSaw Sharks
HeterodontiformesHeterodontidaeHorn Sharks, Bullhead Sharks
OrectolobiformesParascylliidaeCollared Carpet Sharks
OrectolobiformesBrachaeluridaeBlind Sharks
OrectolobiformesOrectolobidaeWobbegongs
OrectolobiformesHemiscylliidaeLongtail Carpet Sharks
OrectolobiformesStegostomatidaeZebra Sharks
OrectolobiformesGinglymostomatidaeNurse Sharks
OrectolobiformesRhincodontidaeWhale Shark
LamniformesOdontaspididaeSand Tigers, Grey Nurse Sharks
LamniformesMitsukurinidaeGoblin Shark
LamniformesPseudocarchariidaeCrocodile Shark
LamniformesMegachasmidaeMegamouth Shark
LamniformesAlopiidaeThresher Sharks
LamniformesCetorhinidaeBasking Shark
LamniformesLamnidaeMackeral Sharks, Makos
CarcharhiniformesScyliorhinidaeCatsharks
CarcharhiniformesProscylliidaeFinback Catsharks
CarcharhiniformesPseudotriakidaeFalse Catshark
CarcharhiniformesLeptochariidaeBarbled Houndshark
CarcharhiniformesTriakidaeHoundsharks
CarcharhiniformesHemigaleidaeWeasel Sharks
CarcharhiniformesCarcharhinidaeRequiem Sharks, Whaler Sharks
CarcharhiniformesSphyrnidaeHammerhead Sharks
SquatiniformesSquatinidaeAngel Sharks
RhinobatiformesPlatyrhinidaePlatyrhinids
RhinobatiformesRhinobatidaeGuitarfishes
RhinobatiformesRhynchobatidaeSharkfin Guitarfishes
RajiformesRajidaeSkates
PristiformesPristidaeSawfishes
TorpediniformesTorpedinidaeElectric Rays
TorpediniformesHypnidaeCoffinrays
TorpediniformesNarcinidaeNarcinids
TorpediniformesNarkidaeNarkids
MyliobatiformesPotamotrygonidaeRiver Rays
MyliobatiformesDasyatididaeStingrays
MyliobatiformesUrolophidaeRound Stingrays
MyliobatiformesGymnuridaeButterfly Rays
MyliobatiformesHexatrygonidaeSixgill Rays
MyliobatiformesMyliobatididaeEagle Rays
MyliobatiformesRhinopteridaeCownose Rays
MyliobatiformesMobulidaeDevil Rays, Mantas
ChimaeriformesCallorhynchidaePlownose Chimaeras, Elephant Fishes
ChimaeriformesChimaeridaeShortnose Chimaeras, Ghost Sharks, Ratfishes
ChimaeriformesRhincochimaeridaeLongnose Chimaeras, Spookfishes

Class Osteichthyes

OrderFamilyCommon Names
CeratodontiformesCeratodontidaeAustralian Lungfish
LepidosireniformesLepidosirenidaeSouth American Lungfishes
LepidosireniformesPrototeridaeAfrican Lungfishes
CoelacanthiformesCoelacanthidaeCoelacanth
PolypteriformesPolypteridaeBichirs
AcipenseriformesAcipenseridaeSturgeons
AcipenseriformesPolyodontidaePaddlefishes
LepisosteiformesLepisosteidaeGars
AmiiformesAmiidaeBowfin
HiodontiformesHiodontidaeMooneyes
OsteoglossiformesOsteoglossidaeBonytongues
OsteoglossiformesPantodontidaeFreshwater Butterfly Fish
OsteoglossiformesNotopteridaeFeatherbacks
OsteoglossiformesMormyridaeElephantfishes
OsteoglossiformesGymnarchidaeAba
ElopiformesElopidaeTenpounders, Ladyfishes
ElopiformesMegalopidaeTarpons
AlbuliformesAbulidaeBonefishes
NotacanthiformesHalosauridaeHalosaurs
NotacanthiformesNotocanthidaeSpiny Eels
AnguilliformesAnguillidaeFreshwater Eels
AnguilliformesHeterenchelyidaeShortfaced Eels
AnguilliformesMoringuidaeSpaghetti Eels
AnguilliformesChlopsidaeFalse Moray Eels
AnguilliformesMyrocongridaeMyrocongrid
AnguilliformesMuraenidaeMoray Eels
AnguilliformesNemichthyidaeSnipe Eels
AnguilliformesMuraenesocidaePike Eels
AnguilliformesSynaphobranchidaeCutthroat Eels
AnguilliformesOphichthidaeSnake Eels, Worm Eels
AnguilliformesNettastomaridaeDuckbill Eels
AnguilliformesColocongridaeColcongrids
AnguilliformesCongridaeCongor Eels, Garden Eels
AnguilliformesDerichthyidaeNarrowneck Eels, Spoonbill eels
AnguilliformesSerrivomeridaeSawtooth Eels
AnguilliformesCyematidaeBobtail Snipe Eels
AnguilliformesSaccopharyngidaeSwallowers
AnguilliformesEurypharyngidaeGulper Eels
AnguilliformesMonognathidaeSinglejaw Eels
CulpeiformesDenticipitidaeDenticle Herrings
CulpeiformesClupeidaeHerrings, Pilchards, Sardines
CulpeiformesEngraulididaeAnchovies
CulpeiformesChirocentridaeWolf Herrings
GonorhynchiformesChanidaeMilkfish
GonorhynchiformesGonorhynchidaeBeaked Salmons
GonorhynchiformesKneriidaeShellears
GonorhynchiformesPhractolaemidaeHingemouth
CypriniformesCyprinidaeCarps, Minnows
CypriniformesPsilorhynchidaePsilorhynchids
CypriniformesBalitoridaeHillstream Loaches
CypriniformesCobitidaeLoaches
CypriniformesGyrinocheilidaeAlgae Eaters
CypriniformesCatostomidaeSuckers
CharaciformesAcestrorhynchidaeCharacins
CharaciformesCitharinidaeCitharinids
CharaciformesDistichodontidaeDistichodontins, African Fin Eaters
CharaciformesHepsetidaeAfrican Pike Charicin
CharaciformesErythrinidaeTrahiras and Allies
CharaciformesCtenoluciidaeAmerican Pike Characins
CharaciformesLebiasinidaeVoladoras, Pencil Fishes
CharaciformesCharacidaeAfrican Tetras, Characins, Tetras, Brycons, Piranhas and allies
CharaciformesCurimatidaeToothless Characins
CharaciformesProchilodontidaeFlannelmoth Characins
CharaciformesAnastomidaeAnastomins, Leporinins
CharaciformesHemiodontidaeHemiodontids
CharaciformesChilodontidaeHeadstanders
CharaciformesGasteroplecidaeFreshwater Hatchetfishes
SiluriformesDiplomystidaeVelvet Catfishes
SiluriformesNematogenyidaeMountain Catfish
SiluriformesTrichomycteridaeSpinyhead Catfishes, Candirus
SiluriformesCallicthyidaePlated Catfishes
SiluriformesScoloplacidaeSpinynose Catfishes
SiluriformesAstroblepidaeAndes Catfishes
SiluriformesLoricariidaeArmoured Suckermouth Catfishes
SiluriformesIctaluridaeBullhead Catfishes, Madtoms
SiluriformesBagridaeBagrid Catfishes
SiluriformesCranoglanididaeArmouhead Catfishes
SiluriformesSiluridaeSheatfishes, Wels, Glass Catfishes
SiluriformesSchilbidaeSchilbid Catfishes
SiluriformesPangasiidaePangasid Catfishes
SiluriformesAmblycipitidaeTorrent Catfishes
SiluriformesAmphilliidaeLoach Catfishes
SiluriformesAkysidaeAsian Banjo Catfishes
SiluriformesSisoridaeHillstream Catfishes
SiluriformesClariidaeLabyrinth Catfishes, Airbreathing Catfishes
SiluriformesHeteropneustidaeAirsac Catfishes
SiluriformesChacidaeAngler Catfishes, Squarehead Catfishes
SiluriformesOlyridaeOlyrid Catfishes
SiluriformesMalapteruridaeElectric Catfishes
SiluriformesAriidaeSea Catfishes
SiluriformesPlotosidaeEeltail Catfishes
SiluriformesMochokidaeUpsidedown Catfishes, Squeakers
SiluriformesDoradidaeThorny Catfishes
SiluriformesAuchenipteridaeWood Catfishes
SiluriformesPimelodidaeShovelnose Catfishes, Longwhisker
SiluriformesAgeneiosidaeBottlenose Catfishes, Barbelless Catfishes
SiluriformesHelogenidaeHalogene Catfishes
SiluriformesCetopsidaeShark Catfishes, Carneros
SiluriformesHypophthalmidaeLoweye Catfishes
SiluriformesAspredinidaeBanjo Catfishes
SiluriformesSternopygidaeLongtail Knifefishes
SiluriformesRhamphichthyidaeLongsnout Knifefishes
SiluriformesHypopomidaeBluntnose Knifefishes
SiluriformesApternotidaeBlack Knifefishes
SiluriformesGymnotidaeBanded Knifefishes
SiluriformesElectrophoridaeElectric Eel, Electric Knifefish
ArgentiniformesArgentinidaeHerring Smelts
ArgentiniformesMicrostomatidaeDeepsea Smelts
ArgentiniformesOpisthoproctidaeBarreleyes, Spookfishes
ArgentiniformesAlepocephalidaeSlickheads
ArgentiniformesBathyloconidaeBathylaconids
ArgentiniformesPlatytrochidaeTubeshoulders
SalmoniformesOsmeridaeNorthern Smelts, Ayu
SalmoniformesSlangidaeIcefishes, Noodlefishes
SalmoniformesRetropinnidaeSouthern Smelts
SalmoniformesGlaxiidaeGlaxiids
SalmoniformesLepidogalaxiidaeSalamanderfish
SalmoniformesSalmonidaeChars, Trout, Salmon, Whitefishes
EsociformesEsocidaePikes
EsociformesUmbridaeMudminnows
AteleopodiformesAteleopodidaeJellynose Fishes
StomiiformsGonostomatidaeLightfishes, Bristlemouths
StomiiformsSternoptychidaeHatchetfishes and allies
StomiiformsPhosichthyidaeLightfishes
StomiiformsStomiidaeViperfishes, Dragonfishes, Snaggletooths, Loosejaws
AulopiformesAulopidaeAulopids
AulopiformesBathysauridaeBathysaurids
AulopiformesChlorphthalmidaeGreeneyes
AulopiformesIpnopidaeIpnopids, Tripod Fishes
AulopiformesSynodontidaeLizardfishes, Bombay duck
AulopiformesScopelarchidaePearleyes
AulopiformesNotosudidaeWaryfishes
AulopiformesGiganturidaeTelescope Fishes
AulopiformesParalepididaeBarracudinas
AulopiformesAnotopteridaeDaggertooth
AulopiformesEvermannellidaeSabertooth Fishes
AulopiformesOmosudidaeOmosudid
AulopiformesAlepisauridaeLancetfishes
AulopiformesPseudotrichonotidaePseudotrichonotids
MyctophiformesNeoscopelidaeNeoscopelids
MyctophiformesMyctophidaeLanternfishes
LampridiformesLamprididaeOpahs
LampridiformesVeliferidaeVelifers
LampridiformesLophotidaeCrestfishes
LampridiformesRadiicephalidaeInkfishes
LampridiformesTrachipteridaeRibbonfishes
LampridiformesRegalecidaeOarfishes
LampridiformesStylephoridaeTube eye
PolymixiiformesPolymixiidaeBeardfishes
PercopsiformesPercopsidaeTroutperches
PercopsiformesAphredoderidaePirate Perch
PercopsiformesAmblyopsidaeCavefishes
GadiformesMuraenolepididaeMuraenolepidids
GadiformesMoridaeMorid Eels, Moras
GadiformesMelanonidaeMelanonids
GadiformesEuclichthyidaeEuclichthyid
GadiformesBregmacerotidaeCodlets
GadiformesGadidaeCodfishes, Haddocks and allies
GadiformesMerlucciidaeHakes
GadiformesSteindachneriidaeSteindachneriid
GadiformesMacrouridaeRattails, Grenadiers
OphidiiformesOphidiidaeBrotulas, Cuskeels and allies
OphidiiformesCarapidaePearlfishes
OphidiiformesBythitidaeLivebearing Brotulas
OphidiiformesAphyonidaeAphyonids
BatrachoidiformesBatrachoididaeMidshipmen, Toadfishes
LophiiformesLophiidaeGoosefishes, Monkfishes
LophiiformesAntennariidaeFrogfishes, Shallow Anglerfishes
LophiiformesTetrabrachiidaeHumpback Angler
LophiiformesLophichthyidaeLophichthyid
LophiiformesBrachionichthyidaeWarty Anglers, Handfishes
LophiiformesChaunacidaeCoffinfishes, Gapers, Seatoads
LophiiformesOgcocephalidaeBatfishes
LophiiformesCaulophryndaeFanfin Anglers
LophiiformesCeratiidaeSeadevils
LophiiformesGigantactinidaeWhipnose Anglers
LophiiformesNeoceratiidaeNeedlebeard Angler
LophiiformesLinophrynidaeNetdevils
LophiiformesOneirodidaeDreamers
LophiiformesThaumatichthyidaeWolftrap Angler
LophiiformesCentrophrynidaeHollowchin Anglers
LophiiformesDiceratiidaeDouble Anglers
LophiiformesHimantolophidaeFootballfishes
LophiiformesMelanocetidaeBlackdevils
GobiesociformesGobiesocidaeClingfishes
GobiesociformesCallionymidaeDragonets
GobiesociformesDraconettidaeDraconettids
CyprinodontiformesRivulidaeSouth American Annuals
CyprinodontiformesAplocheilidaeAfrican Annuals
CyprinodontiformesProfundulidaeProfundulids
CyprinodontiformesFundulidaeKillifishes
CyprinodontiformesValenciidaeValenciids
CyprinodontiformesAnablepidaeCuatro ojos, Foureyed Fishes
CyprinodontiformesPoeciliidaeLivebearers, Guppies etc.
CyprinodontiformesGoodaeidaeGoodeids
CyprinodontiformesCyprinodontidaePupfishes
BeloniformesAdrianichthyidaeRicefishes
BeloniformesExocoetidaeFlyingfishes
BeloniformesHemiramphidaeHalfbeaks
BeloniformesBelonidaeNeedlefishes
BeloniformesScomberesocidaeSauries
AtheriniformesAtherinidaeGrunions, Silversides, Topsmelts
AtheriniformesDentatherinidaeDentatherinid
AtheriniformesNotocheiridaeSurf Silversides
AtheriniformesMelanotaeniidaeRainbowfishes
AtheriniformesPseudomugilidaeBlue eyes
AtheriniformesTelmatherinidaeSailfin Silverbacks
AtheriniformesPhallostethidaePriapium Fishes
StephanoberyciformesStephanoberycidaePricklefishes
StephanoberyciformesMelamphaidaeBigscale Fishes, Ridgeheads
StephanoberyciformesGibberichthyidaeGibberfishes
StephanoberyciformesHispidoberycidaeBristlyskin
StephanoberyciformesRondeletiidaeOrangemouth Whalefishes
StephanoberyciformesBarbourisiidaeRedvelvet Whalefish
StephanoberyciformesCetomimidaeFlabby Whalefishes
StephanoberyciformesMirapinnadaeHairyfish, Tapetails
StephanoberyciformesMegalomycteridaeBignose Fishes, Mosaicscale Fishes
BeryciformesHolocentridaeSquirrelfishes, Soldier Fishes
BeryciformesBerycidaeAlfoncinos
BeryciformesAnoplogasteridaeFangtooth Fishes
BeryciformesMonocentrididaePineapple Fishes, Pinecone Fishes
BeryciformesAnomalopidaeFlashlight Fishes, Lanterneye Fishes
BeryciformesTrachichthyidaeRoughies, Slimeheads
BeryciformesDiretmidaeSpinyfins
ZeiformesParazenidaeParazen
ZeiformesMacrurocyttidaeMacrurocyttids
ZeiformesZeidaeDories
ZeiformesOreosomatidaeOreos
ZeiformesGrammicolepididaeTinselfishes
ZeiformesCaproidaeBoarfishes
GasterosteiformesHypoptychidaeSand Eel
GasterosteiformesAulorhynchidaeTubesnouts
GasterosteiformesGasterosteidaeSticklebacks
GasterosteiformesIndostomidaeParadox Fish
GasterosteiformesPegasidaeSeamoths
GasterosteiformesAulostomidaeTrumpetfishes
GasterosteiformesFistulariidaeCornetfishes
GasterosteiformesMacroramphosidaeSnipefishes
GasterosteiformesCentriscidaeRazorfishes, Shrimpfishes
GasterosteiformesSolenostomidaeGhost Pipefishes
GasterosteiformesSygnathidaePipefishes, Seahorses
SynbranchiformesSynbranchidaeSwampeels
SynbranchiformesMastacembelidaeSpiny Eels
SynbranchiformesChaudhuriidaeChaudhuriids
ScorpaeniformesScorpaenidaeScorpionfishes, Rockfishes, Stonefishes
ScorpaeniformesCaracanthidaeCoral Crouchers
ScorpaeniformesAploactinidaeVelvetfishes
ScorpaeniformesPataecidaeProwfishes
ScorpaeniformesGnathanacanthidaeRed Velvetfish
ScorpaeniformesCongiopodidaeHorsefishes, Pigfishes
ScorpaeniformesTriglidaeGurnards, Sea Robins
ScorpaeniformesDactylopteridaeHelmet Gurnards, Flying Gurnards
ScorpaeniformesPlatycephalidaeFlatheads
ScorpaeniformesBembridaeDeepwater Flatheads
ScorpaeniformesHoplichthyidaeGhost Flatheads, Spiny Flatheads
ScorpaeniformesAnoplopomatidaeSablefish, Skilfish
ScorpaeniformesHexagrammidaeGreenlings
ScorpaeniformesZaniolepididaeCombfishes
ScorpaeniformesNormanichthyidaeSouthern Sculpin
ScorpaeniformesRhamphocottidaeGrunt Sculpin
ScorpaeniformesEreuniidaeDeepwater Sculpins
ScorpaeniformesCottidaeSculpins
ScorpaeniformesComephoridaeBaikal Oilfishes
ScorpaeniformesAbyssocottidaeAbyssocottids
ScorpaeniformesHemitripteridaeHemitripterids
ScorpaeniformesPsychrolutidaeBlob Fishes, Fatheads
ScorpaeniformesBathyluichthyidaeBathylutichthyids
ScorpaeniformesAgonidaePoachers
ScorpaeniformesCyclopteridaeLumpfishes
ScorpaeniformesLiparidaeLumpsuckers, Snailfishes
PerciformesAmbassidaeGlassfishes
PerciformesAcropomatidaeAcropomatids
PerciformesEpigonidaeEpigonids
PerciformesScombropidaeGnomefishes
PerciformesSymphysanodontidaeSymphysanodontids
PerciformesCaesioscorpididaeCaesioscorpidids
PerciformesPolyprionidaeWreckfishes
PerciformesDinopercidaeCavebasses
PerciformesCentropomidaeSnooks
PerciformesLatidaeGiant Perches
PerciformesPercichthyidaeSouth Temperate Basses
PerciformesMoronidaeNorth Temperate Basses
PerciformesSerranidaeGroupers, Sea Basses
PerciformesCallanthiidaeRosey Perches
PerciformesPseudochromidaeDottybacks
PerciformesGrammatidaeBasslets
PerciformesOpistognathidaeJawfishes
PerciformesPlesiopidaeRoundheads
PerciformesNotograptidaeBearded Snakeblennies
PerciformesPholidichthyidaeConvict Blennies
PerciformesCepolidaeBandfishes
PerciformesGlaucosomatidaePearl Perches
PerciformesTerapontidaeGrunters
PerciformesBanjosidaeBanjosids
PerciformesKuhliidaeAholeholes
PerciformesCentrarchidaeSunfishes
PerciformesPercidaeDarters, Perches
PerciformesPriacanthidaeBigeyes, Catalufas
PerciformesApogonidaeCardinalfishes
PerciformesDinolestidaeDinolestid
PerciformesSillaginidaeSmelt Whitings, Whitings
PerciformesMalacanthidaeTilefishes
PerciformesLabracoglossidaeLabracoglossids
PerciformesLactariidaeFalse Trevallies
PerciformesPomatomidaeBluefish, Tailors
PerciformesMenidaeMoonfish
PerciformesLeiognathidaePonyfishes, Slipmouths
PerciformesBramidaePomfrets
PerciformesCaristiidaeManefishes
PerciformesArripidaeAustralian Salmons
PerciformesEmmelichthyidaeRovers
PerciformesLutjanidaeEmperors, Snappers
PerciformesLobotidaeTripletails
PerciformesGerreidaeMojarras, Silver Biddies
PerciformesHaemulidaeGrunts
PerciformesInermiidaeBonnetmouths
PerciformesSparidaeBreams, Porgies
PerciformesCentracanthidaeCentracanthids
PerciformesLethrinidaeEmperors, Scavengers
PerciformesNemipteridaeMonocle Breams, Threadfin
PerciformesSciaenidaeDrums, Croakers
PerciformesMullidaeGoatfishes
PerciformesMonodactylidaeFingerfishes, Moonfishes
PerciformesPempherididaeSweepers
PerciformesLeptobramidaeBeachsalmon
PerciformesBathyclupeidaeBathyclupeids
PerciformesToxotidaeArcherfishes
PerciformesCoracinidaeGaljoenfishes
PerciformesKyphosidaeSeachubs
PerciformesGirellidaeBlackfishes, Nibblers
PerciformesScorpididaeHalfmoons, Mado, Sweeps
PerciformesMicrocanthidaeStripey
PerciformesEphippidaeSpadefishes
PerciformesScatophagidaeScats
PerciformesChaetodontidaeButterflyfishes
PerciformesPomacanthidaeAngelfishes
PerciformesEnoplosidaeOldwife
PerciformesPentercerotidaeArmourheads
PerciformesOplegnathidaeKnifejaws
PerciformesIcosteidaeRagfish
PerciformesKurtidaeNurseryfishes
PerciformesScombrolabracidaeScombrolabracid
PerciformesNematistiidaeRoosterfish
PerciformesCarangidaeJacks, Trevallies
PerciformesEcheneidaeRemoras
PerciformesRachycentridaeCobia, Black Kingfish
PerciformesCoryphaenidaeDolphins
PerciformesCirrhitidaeHawkfishes
PerciformesChironemidaeKelpfishes
PerciformesAplodactylidaeAplodactylids
PerciformesCheilodactylidaeMorwongs
PerciformesLatrididaeTrumpeters
PerciformesMugilidaeMullets
PerciformesPolynemidaeThreadfins
PerciformesCichlidaeCichlids
PerciformesEmbiotocidaeSurfperches
PerciformesPomacentridaeAnemonefishes, Damselfishes
PerciformesLabridaeWrasses
PerciformesOdacidaeRock Whitings
PerciformesScaridaeParrotfishes
PerciformesBathymasteridaeRonquils
PerciformesZoarcidaeEelpouts
PerciformesStichaeidaePricklebacks
PerciformesCryptacanthodidaeWrymouths
PerciformesPholididaeGunnels
PerciformesAnarchichadidaeWolffiishes
PerciformesPtilichthyidaeQuillfishes
PerciformesZaproridaeProwfishes
PerciformesScytalinidaeGraveldiver
PerciformesBovichtidaeThornfishes
PerciformesNototheniidaeNototheniids
PerciformesHarpagiferidaePlunderfishes
PerciformesBathydraconidaeAntarctic Dragonfishes
PerciformesChannichthyidaeIcefishes
PerciformesChiasmodontidaeSwallowers
PerciformesChampsodontidaeChampsodontids
PerciformesTrichodontidaeSandfishes
PerciformesTrachinidaeWeeverfish
PerciformesUranoscopidaeStargazers
PerciformesTrichonotidaeSanddivers
PerciformesCreediidaeSandburrowers
PerciformesLeptoscopidaeLeptoscopids
PerciformesPercophidaeDuckbills
PerciformesPinguipedidaeSandperches
PerciformesCheimarrhichthyidaeTorrentfish
PerciformesAmmodytidaeSandlances
PerciformesTripterygiidaeTriplfins
PerciformesDactyloscopidaeSand Stargazers
PerciformesLabrisomidaeLabrisomids
PerciformesClinidaeKelpfishes, Kelp Blennies
PerciformesChaenopsidaeTube Blennies
PerciformesBlenniidaeCombtooth Blennies
PerciformesRhyacichthyidaeLoach Goby
PerciformesOdonotobutidaeFreshwater Asian Gobies
PerciformesGobiidaeGobies, Gudgeons, Sleepers
PerciformesSiganidaeRabbitfishes
PerciformesLuvaridaeLouvar
PerciformesZanclidaeMoorish Idol
PerciformesAcanthuridaeSurgeonfishes, Tangs
PerciformesSphyraenidaeBarracudas
PerciformesGempylidaeSnake Mackerels, Gemfishes
PerciformesTrichiuridaeCutlassfishes
PerciformesScombridaeBonitos, Mackerels, Tunas
PerciformesXiphiidaeSwordfish
PerciformesIstiophoridaeBillfishes
PerciformesAmarsipidaeAmarsipids
PerciformesCentrolophidaeMedusafishes
PerciformesNomeidaeDriftfishes
PerciformesAriommatidaeAriommatids
PerciformesTetragonuridaeSquaretails
PerciformesStromateidaeButterfishes
PerciformesBadidaeChameleonfish
PerciformesNandidaeLeaffishes
PerciformesPristolepidaeFalse Leaffishes
PerciformesChannidaeSnakeheads
PerciformesAnabantidaeClimbing Gouramies
PerciformesBelontiidaeGouramies
PerciformesHelostomatidaeKissing Gourami
PerciformesOsphronemidaeGiant Gourami
PerciformesLuciocephalidaePikehead
PleuronectiformesPsettodidaeSpiny Flatfishes
PleuronectiformesCitharidaeCitharids
PleuronectiformesBothidaeLefteye Flounders
PleuronectiformesPleuronectidaeRighteye Flounders
PleuronectiformesCynoglossidaeTonguefishes, Tongue Soles
PleuronectiformesSoleidaeSoles
PleuronectiformesAchiridaeAmerican Soles
PleuronectiformesAchiropsettidaeSouthern flounders
TetraodontiformesTriacanthodidaeSpikefishes
TetraodontiformesTriacanthidaeTriplespins
TetraodontiformesBalistidaeTriggerfishes
TetraodontiformesMonacanthidaeFilefishes, Leatherjackets
TetraodontiformesAracanidaeRobust boxfishes
TetraodontiformesOstraciidaeBoxfishes, Cowfishes, Trunkfishes
TetraodontiformesTriodontidaePursefishes, Three Toothed Puffer
TetraodontiformesTetraodontidaePufferfishes, Toados
TetraodontiformesDiodontidaePorcupinefishes
TetraodontiformesMolidaeMolas, Ocean Sunfishes
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Gordon Ramel

Gordon is an ecologist with two degrees from Exeter University. He's also a teacher, a poet and the owner of 1,152 books. Oh - and he wrote this website.

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