Elopiformes

Elopiformes
Temporal range: Early Cretaceous–Recent

[1]

Tarpon, Megalops sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Elopiformes
Sauvage, 1875
Families

Elopidae
Megalopidae

The Elopiformes /ᵻˌlɒpᵻˈfɔːrmiːz/ are the order of ray-finned fish including the tarpons, tenpounders, and ladyfish, as well as a number of extinct types. They have a long fossil record, easily distinguished from other fishes by the presence of an additional set of bones in the throat.[1]

They are related to the order of eels, although the adults superficially resemble very large or giant herrings in appearance. The larvae, however, are leptocephali, looking very similar to those of eels.[1]

Classification

Although many fossil forms are known, the order is relatively small today, containing just two genera and nine species:[2]

Order Elopiformes

Timeline of genera

Quaternary Neogene Paleogene Cretaceous Jurassic Triassic Holocene Pleistocene Pliocene Miocene Oligocene Eocene Paleocene Late Cretaceous Early Cretaceous Late Jurassic Middle Jurassic Early Jurassic Late Triassic Middle Triassic Early Triassic Ectasis Lyrolepis Elops Esocelops Dactylopogon Pronotacanthus Opistopteryx Tachynectes Coryphaenopsis Protelops Protostomias Ostariostoma Davichthys Carsothrissops Flindersicthys Osmeroides Notelops Eichstaettia Anaethalion Eoprotelops Chongichthys Antofastaichthys Quaternary Neogene Paleogene Cretaceous Jurassic Triassic Holocene Pleistocene Pliocene Miocene Oligocene Eocene Paleocene Late Cretaceous Early Cretaceous Late Jurassic Middle Jurassic Early Jurassic Late Triassic Middle Triassic Early Triassic

"Megalopiformes"

Quaternary Neogene Paleogene Cretaceous Holocene Pleistocene Pliocene Miocene Oligocene Eocene Paleocene Late Cretaceous Early Cretaceous Megalops Broweria Promegalops Protarpon Paratarpon Sedenhorstia Elopoides Quaternary Neogene Paleogene Cretaceous Holocene Pleistocene Pliocene Miocene Oligocene Eocene Paleocene Late Cretaceous Early Cretaceous

References

  1. 1 2 3 McCosker, John F. (1998). Paxton, J.R.; Eschmeyer, W.N., eds. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 85–86. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.
  2. ↑ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2009). "Elopiformes" in FishBase. January 2009 version.
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