Order Summary for Stomiiformes

  Main Ref
:
  Order
:
Stomiiformes lightfishes and dragonfishes
  Class
:
Teleostei
  Sister Order
:
Aulopiformes 70 M years
  Ref.
:
  First Fossil Record
:
late Cretaceous
  Occurs in
:
Marine
Fresh
Brackish
  Remark
:
Luminescent organs (photophores) present; chin barbel present in some; premaxilla and maxilla in gape of mouth - both have teeth; mouth extending past eye in most; scales, if present, cycloid and easily lost; pectoral, dorsal, or adipose fins absent in some; ventral adipose fin present in some; pelvic fin rays 4-9; branchiostegal rays 5-24. Color in most is dark brown or black; some are silvery (primarily some Gonostomatoidei). Most tropical to temperate; many are deep-sea.
  Class etymology
:
Greek aktis = ray, thunderbolt, beam + Greek pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin. Ref. 45335.
  Order etymology
:
Greek, stoma = mouth + Latin, forma = shape (Ref. 45335).
  Families
:

Ref.
[ e.g. 9948]                       
Glossary
                    [ e.g. cephalopods]

Converted to PHP by Kit 06.10.09