LINKS TO ALL FISH:

 

Acipenseriformes (Sturgeons) 

Pycnodontiformes

Amiiformes (Bowfins)

  • Lehmanamia sheppeyensis

Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues)

Albuliformes (Bonefishes)

Anguilliformes (Eels)

Elopiformes (Tarpon / Tenpounders)

Siluriformes (Catfish)

Gonorynchiformes (Milk fish)

Aulopiformes (Grinners & Lizardfish)

Gadiformes (Cod & Hake)

Holocentriformes (Soldier fish)

  • Myripristis toliapicus
  • Naupygus bucklandi
  • Paraberyx bowerbanki

Ophidiiformes (Cusk-eels)

Scombriformes (Mackerel & Tuna)

Gempylidae (Snake Mackerels)

Carangiformes (Jack Mackerels)

Istiophoriformes (Billfish)

Labriformes (Wrasses)

Perciformes (Perch-like)

Pleuronectiformes (Flatfish)

Acanthuriformes (Luvar fish)

  • Beerichthys ingens
  • Beerichthys sp.

Ephippiformes (Spadefishes)

Lampriformes (Opahs/Oarfish)

Spariformes (Sea Bream)

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/)

Click species for detailed summary: