Nelson, J.S., 1994

Atheriniformes silversides

Teleostei

Beloniformes 45 M years

Carroll, R., 1988  |  Helfman, G., B. Collette and D. Facey, 1997

early Tertiary

Marine

Fresh

Brackish

Usually two dorsal fins, the first, if present, with flexible spines; anal fin usually preceded by a spine; lateral line absent or very weak; branchiostegal rays 4-7; narial openings paired; pelvic fins abdominal, subadominal, or thoracic in position (essentially absent in female phallostethids and highly modified in male phallostethids); parietals usually present.

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

Greek, atherine = a kind of smelt + Latin, forma = shape (Ref. 45335).

( n = 10 )
Atherinidae Atherinopsidae Atherionidae Bedotiidae Dentatherinidae Isonidae Melanotaeniidae Notocheiridae Phallostethidae Pseudomugilidae Telmatherinidae

Ref.
[ e.g. 9948 ]      

Glossary
      [ e.g. oophagy ]