Order Summary for Batrachoidiformes

  Main Ref
:
  Order
:
Batrachoidiformes toadfishes
  Class
:
Teleostei
  Sister Order
:
Gadiformes 20 M years
  Ref.
:
  First Fossil Record
:
middle Tertiary
  Occurs in
:
Marine
Fresh
Brackish
  Remark
:
Body usually scaleless (small cycloid scales in some); head large with eyes more dorsal than lateral; mouth large and bordered by premaxilla and maxilla; pore (foramen) in axil of pectoral fin in some; pelvic fins jugular (in front of pectorals), with one spine and two or three soft rays; three pairs of gills; gill membrane broadly joined to isthmus; branchiostegal rays six; four or five pectoral radials; swim bladder present; upper hypurals with peculiar intervertebrallike basal articulation with rest of caudal skeleton; no ribs, epiotics, or intercalars; no pyloric caeca.
  Class etymology
:
Greek aktis = ray, thunderbolt, beam + Greek pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin. Ref. 45335.
  Order etymology
:
Greek, batrachos = frog + Latin, forma = shape (Ref. 45335).
  Families
:
( n = 1 ) -
Batrachoididae

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

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