Order Summary for Gasterosteiformes

  Main Ref
:
  Order
:
Gasterosteiformes sticklebacks and seamoths
  Class
:
Teleostei
  Sister Order
:
Syngnathiformes 15 M years
  Ref.
:
  First Fossil Record
:
late Tertiary
  Occurs in
:
Marine
Fresh
Brackish
  Remark
:
Pelvic girdle never attached directly to the cleithra; supramaxillary, orbitosphenoid, and basisphenoid absent; postcleithrum a single bone or absent; branchiostegal rays 1-5; body often with armor of dermal plates; mouth usually small. About 19 species are restricted to freshwater, and another 40 species are found in brackish water (some being variously diadromous or at lest able to commonly enter freshwater and marine water).
  Class etymology
:
Greek aktis = ray, thunderbolt, beam + Greek pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin. Ref. 45335.
  Order etymology
:
Greek, gaster = stomach + Greek, + Greek, osteon = bone + Latin, forma = shape (Ref. 45335).
  Families
:
( n = 5 ) -

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

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