Atheriniformes

The Atheriniformes, also known as the silversides, are an order of ray-finned fishes that includes the Old World silversides, the Neotropical silversides, and several less-familiar families. The only prehistoric silverside is Palaeoatherina. You can find them in tropical and temperate marine and freshwater environments.

Taxonomy

Nelson 2016 classifies the families as follows:

  • Order Atheriniformes
    • Suborder Atherinopsoidei
      • Family Atherinopsidae (New World silversides)
      • Family Notocheiridae (Surf silverside)
    • Suborder Atherinoidei
      • Family Isonidae (Surf sardines)
      • Family Melanotaeniidae (Rainbowfishes and blue eyes)
      • Family Atherionidae (Pricklenose silversides)
      • Family Dentatherinidae (Mercer's tusked silverside)
      • Family Phallostethidae (Priapium fishes)
      • Family Atherinidae (Old World silversides)

References

  1. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Atherina". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 16 July 2019.