Gonorynchiformes
Order of fishes / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gonorynchiformes /ɡɒnəˈrɪŋkɪfɔːrmiːz/ are 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.
Gonorynchiformes | |
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Milkfish, Chanos chanos | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Superorder: | Ostariophysi |
Order: | Gonorynchiformes L. S. Berg, 1940 |
Type species | |
Gonorynchus gonorynchus (Linnaeus, 1766) | |
Families | |
Chanidae (milkfish) |
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 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.[1] 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.[2]