Nelson, J.S., 1994

Anguilliformes eels and morays

Teleostei

Saccopharyngiformes 85 M years

Forey, P., D. Littlewood, P. Ritchie and A. Meyer, 1996  | 

middle Cretaceous

Marine

Fresh

Brackish

Pelvic fins and skeleton absent; pectoral fins and girdle absent in some; pectoral fins, when present, at least midlateral in position or higher and skeleton lacking bony connection to skull (posttemporal absent); dorsal and anal fins confluent with caudal fin (caudal fin rayless or lost in some); scales usually absent or, if present, cycloid and embedded; body very elongate (eel-like); gill openings usually narrow; gill region elongate and gills displaced posteriorly; gill rakers absent; pyloric caeca absent; maxilla toothed, bordering mouth; the two pre-maxillae (rarely absent), the vomer (usually), and the ethmoid united into a single bone; branchiostegal rays 6-49; swim bladder present, duct usually present; oviducts absent; opisthotic, orbitosphenoid, mesocoracoid, gular plate, posttemporal, postcleithra, supramaxilla, and extrascapular bones absent; ossified symplectic absent (cartilaginous one present in Synaphobranchidae); hyomandibular united with quadrate; ribs present or absent.

Greek aktis = ray, thunderbolt, beam + Greek pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin. Ref. 45335.

Latin, anguila = eel + Latin, forma = shape (Ref. 45335).

( n = 16 )
Anguillidae Chlopsidae Colocongridae Congridae Derichthyidae Heterenchelyidae Moringuidae Muraenesocidae Muraenidae Myrocongridae Nemichthyidae Nettastomatidae Ophichthidae Protanguillidae Serrivomeridae Synaphobranchidae

Ref.
[ e.g. 9948 ]      

Glossary
      [ e.g. oophagy ]