Order Summary for Atheriniformes
Main Ref
:
Order
:
Atheriniformes silversides
Class
:
Teleostei
Sister Order
:
Beloniformes 45 M years
Ref.
:
First Fossil Record
:
early Tertiary
Occurs in
:
Marine
Fresh
Brackish
Remark
:
Usually two dorsal fins, the first, if present, with flexible spines; anal fin usually preceded by a spine; lateral line absent or very weak; branchiostegal rays 4-7; narial openings paired; pelvic fins abdominal, subadominal, or thoracic in position (essentially absent in female phallostethids and highly modified in male phallostethids); parietals usually present.
Class etymology
:
Greek aktis = ray, thunderbolt, beam + Greek pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin. Ref. 45335.
Order etymology
:
Greek, atherine = a kind of smelt + Latin, forma = shape (Ref. 45335).
Families
:


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