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Order Summary for Anguilliformes
Main Ref.:	Nelson, J.S., 1994
Order:	Anguilliformes    eels and morays
Class:	Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Sister Order:	Saccopharyngiformes     85 M years
Ref.:	Forey, P., D. Littlewood, P. Ritchie and A. Meyer, 1996
First fossil record:	middle Cretaceous
Occurs in:	Marine      Freshwater      Brackish
Remarks:	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.
Class etymology:	Greek aktis = ray, thunderbolt, beam + Greek pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin. Ref. 45335.
Order etymology:	Latin, anguila = eel + Latin, forma = shape. Ref. 45335.
Families:	15 Anguillidae , Chlopsidae , Colocongridae , Congridae , Derichthyidae , Heterenchelyidae , Moringuidae , Muraenesocidae , Muraenidae , Myrocongridae , Nemichthyidae , Nettastomatidae , Ophichthidae , Serrivomeridae , Synaphobranchidae

Identification keys | Tree of Life

Ref.:   ( e.g. 9948)
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Page created by: Eli, 17.10.00, last modified by Eli, 15.02.05.