Lampriformes is an order of ray-finned fish whose member include Opahs, Oarfish, Crestfishes and Ribbonfish and are collectively known as Lamprids. These open-ocean fish evolved during the Late Cretaceous (around 80 million years ago) but only contain around 20 living species all of which are very distinct. Many are found in deep waters from 100m-1000m in depth.

This artistic reconstruction illustrates a Whitephippus tamesis fish slowly moving through the deep, murky Eocene seas with the sillouette of a nautilus (Cimomia imperialis) in the background. Recent research (Davesne & Andrews et al. 2024) has moved the genus Whitephippus into this order having previously been considered part of the Spadefish order – Ephippiformes.