Nelson, J.S., 1994

Stomiiformes lightfishes and dragonfishes

Teleostei

Aulopiformes 70 M years

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

late Cretaceous

Marine

Fresh

Brackish

Luminescent organs (photophores) present; chin barbel present in some; premaxilla and maxilla in gape of mouth - both have teeth; mouth extending past eye in most; scales, if present, cycloid and easily lost; pectoral, dorsal, or adipose fins absent in some; ventral adipose fin present in some; pelvic fin rays 4-9; branchiostegal rays 5-24. Color in most is dark brown or black; some are silvery (primarily some Gonostomatoidei). Most tropical to temperate; many are deep-sea.

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

Greek, stoma = mouth + Latin, forma = shape (Ref. 45335).

( n = 4 )
Diplophidae Gonostomatidae Phosichthyidae Sternoptychidae Stomiidae

Ref.
[ e.g. 9948 ]      

Glossary
      [ e.g. oophagy ]