Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues)
- Rhynchorhinus branchialis
- Rhynchorhinus major
Elopiformes (Tarpon / Tenpounders)
- Elops sp.
- Esocelops cavifrons
- Protarpon (Megalops) oblongus
- Protarpon (Megalops) priscus
- Promegalops sheppeyensis
- Promegalops signeuxae
- Bucklandium diluvii
- Undescribed catfish
Aulopiformes (Grinners & Lizardfish)
Holocentriformes (Soldier fish)
- Myripristis toliapicus
- Naupygus bucklandi
- Paraberyx bowerbanki
Scombriformes (Mackerel & Tuna)
- Enniskillenus radiatus
- Bramoides brieni
- Goniocranion arambourgi
- Eocoelopoma colei
- Eocoelopoma curvatum
- Eocoelopoma gigas
- Micrornatus hopwoodi
- Scombramphodon crassidens
- Scombramphodon sheppeyensis
- Duplexdens (Scombrinus) macropomus
- Scombrinus nuchalis
- Sphyraenodus priscus
- Tamesichthys decipiens
- Wetherellus brevior
- Wetherellus cristatus
- Wetherellus longior
- Woodwardella patellifrons
- Palaeocybium proosti
- Undescribed Scombrid #1
- Undescribed Scombrid #2
- Progempylus edwardsi
- Eutrichurides winkleri
- Gempylid Incertae sedis
- Undescribed Gempylid #1
- Trichurides sagittidens
Carangiformes (Jack Mackerels)
- Cylindracanthus rectus
- Hemirhabdorhynchus elliotti
- Acestrus elongatus
- Acestrus ornatus
- Aglyptorhynchus sulcatus
- Aglyptorhynchus venablesi
- Xiphiorhynchus priscus
- Percostoma angustum
- Plesioserranus wemmeliensis
- Serranopsis londinensis
- Undescribed Serranid #1
- Undescribed Serranid #2
Acanthuriformes (Luvar fish)
- Beerichthys ingens
- Beerichthys sp.
Lampriformes (Opahs/Oarfish)
Scientific Classification
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fish)
Clade: Lamprimorpha
Order: Lampriformes (Opahs/Oarfish)
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 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 image represents the extant Opah (Lampris guttatus), also known as a Moonfish, and represents one of the 20 living species within this order.
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).
“950mm SL; from Smith’s Sea Fishes” – Lampris guttatus (Brünnich, 1788) Observed in South Africa by South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
