Order Summary for Myctophiformes

  Main Ref
:
  Order
:
Myctophiformes lanternfishes
  Class
:
Teleostei
  Sister Order
:
Lampriformes 70 M years
  Ref.
:
  First Fossil Record
:
late Cretaceous
  Occurs in
:
Marine
Fresh
Brackish
  Remark
:
Head and body compressed; eye lateral (dorsolateral in the myctophid Hierops); mouth usually large and terminal; adipose fin present; usually 8 pelvic fin rays; usually 7-11 branchiostegal rays. All are deep-sea pelagic and benthopelagic fishes.
  Class etymology
:
Greek aktis = ray, thunderbolt, beam + Greek pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin. Ref. 45335.
  Order etymology
:
Greek, mykter, -eros = nose + Greek, ophis = serpent + Latin, forma = shape. 1601 (Ref. 45335).
  Families
:

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

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