Order Summary for Ophidiiformes
Main Ref
:
Order
:
Ophidiiformes cusk eels
Class
:
Teleostei
Sister Order
:
Gadiformes 20 M years
Ref.
:
First Fossil Record
:
middle Tertiary
Occurs in
:
Marine
Fresh
Brackish
Remark
:
Pelvic fins when present, inserted at level of preopercle or farther anterior (mental or jugular), zero to two soft rays in each, and occasionally with a spine; base of dorsal and anal fins long, extending to and usually joined with caudal fin; nostrils paired on each side; dorsal and anal fin pterygiophores more numerous than adjacent vertebrae (the ratio being about 1.8:1).
Class etymology
:
Greek aktis = ray, thunderbolt, beam + Greek pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin. Ref. 45335.
Order etymology
:
Greek, ophis = serpent + Latin, forma = shape (Ref. 45335).
Families
:


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