The Stephanoberyciformes are an order of marine ray-finned fishes, consisting of about 68 species, the majority (61) of which belong to the ridgehead family (Melamphaidae). The Stephanoberyciformes are mostly uncommon deep-sea species with little, if any, importance to commercial fishery. They share many morphological similarities with the Beryciformes, their sister order.
Some sources[1] classify their other close relatives, the whalefishes, as a superfamily herein, named Cetomimoidea. Most taxa traditionally placed here would then be the Stephanoberyciodea.
The families are:
Melamphaidae – ridgeheads (about 61 species)
Gibberichthyidae – gibberfishes (2 species)
Stephanoberycidae – pricklefishes (4 species)
Hispidoberycidae - Bristlyskin (1 species)
Common characteristics include; a generally rounded body, a toothless palate, rather thin skull bones, and a missing orbitosphenoid bone (except for Hispidoberyx).
The gibberfishes on the other hand appear to be closer to whalefishes such as Rondeletia, as has been proposed time and again. These two groups have - apparently as only living fishes - the mysterious Tominaga's organ (A large mass of globular white tissue, that is present anterior to the orbit and posterior and medial to the nostrils and nasal rosette). Rondeletia, meanwhile, is suspected to be very close to the velvet whalefish, Barbourisia rufa.[2]
^E.g. Nelson (2006)
^Paxton et al. (2001)
and 27 Related for: Stephanoberyciformes information
The Stephanoberyciformes are an order of marine ray-finned fishes, consisting of about 68 species, the majority (61) of which belong to the ridgehead family...
fish. Some authorities include the whalefishes as part of the order Stephanoberyciformes, within the superfamily Cetomimoidea. Their sister order, the Beryciformes...
juveniles of the deepsea "whalefishes" Barbourisia and Rondeletia (Stephanoberyciformes: Barbourisiidae, Rondeletiidae), with comments on family relationships"...
up to 3.6 m (12 ft) and 200 kg (440 lb). Ridgeheads and allies (Stephanoberyciformes) The largest ridgeheads Poromitra curilensis, a Pacific ridgehead...
belong to superorder Acanthopterygii and be closely related to the Stephanoberyciformes. Thus, it is rather unlikely that they are correctly placed here...
Order Cyprinodontiformes, including live-bearers, killifishes Order Stephanoberyciformes, including the ridgeheads Order Beryciformes, including the fangtooths...
Order Cyprinodontiformes, including livebearers, killifishes Order Stephanoberyciformes, including the ridgeheads Order Beryciformes, including the fangtooths...
(red/velvet whalefishes) Family Cetomimidae (flabby whalefishes) Order Stephanoberyciformes Family Melamphaidae (bigscale fishes) Family Gibberichthyidae (gibberfishes)...
Stephanoberycidae, the pricklefishes are a family of fishes in the order Stephanoberyciformes. They are found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic...
the largest and most diverse family of their order. Typical of the Stephanoberyciformes, the melamphid body is robust, oblong, subcylindrical, and slightly...
juveniles of the deepsea "whalefishes" Barbourisia and Rondeletia (Stephanoberyciformes: Barbourisiidae, Rondeletiidae), with comments on family relationships"...
Heteromi (Notacanthiformes), Berycomorphi (Beryciformes), Xenoberyces (Stephanoberyciformes), Anacanthini (Gadiformes): Part 6. Yale University Press. ISBN 9781933789293...
Heteromi (Notacanthiformes), Berycomorphi (Beryciformes), Xenoberyces (Stephanoberyciformes), Anacanthini (Gadiformes): Part 6. Yale University Press. ISBN 9781933789293...
juveniles of the deepsea "whalefishes" Barbourisia and Rondeletia (Stephanoberyciformes: Barbourisiidae, Rondeletiidae), with comments on family relationships"...
Heteromi (Notacanthiformes), Berycomorphi (Beryciformes), Xenoberyces (Stephanoberyciformes), Anacanthini (Gadiformes): Part 6. Yale University Press. ISBN 9781933789163...
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