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Perciformes

 
Sci-Tech Dictionary: Perciformes
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(′pər·sə′för′mēz)

(vertebrate zoology) The typical spiny-rayed fishes, comprising the largest order of vertebrates; characterized by fin spines, a swim bladder without a duct, usually ctenoid scales, and 17 or fewer caudal fin rays.

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Sci-Tech Encyclopedia: Perciformes
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The typical spiny-rayed fishes, also known by the ordinal names Acanthopteri and Percomorphi. This is the largest order of vertebrates; the approximately 7500 species include 41% of all fishes. Perciformes include a diversity of structural types and sizes. The characters of the Perciformes include fin spines, usually present; a pelvic fin which, if present, is usually thoracic or jugular in position; the pelvic girdle usually attached to the cleithra, sometimes connected by ligaments; the pelvic fin usually with a spine and 5 soft rays, the latter occasionally reduced; the pectoral fin base more or less vertical, usually placed well up on the side; a swim bladder without a duct; scales usually ctenoid, sometimes secondarily cycloid, absent, or variously modified; and the caudal fin with 17 principal rays (15 branched) or fewer.

Perciform fishes dominate the modern vertebrate life of the oceans and have done so throughout the Cenozoic. The group first appeared in the Upper Cretaceous, after which it underwent a rapid adaptive radiation; many of the basic structural types, as well as most major perciform derivatives such as the Pleuronectiformes and Tetraodontiformes, were present in the Eocene, A few families of perciforms have been notably successful in fresh water. Other families have effectively adapted to life in the deep seas, and still others have become specialized for pelagic existence. It is in the shore areas, the offshore banks, the coral reefs, the coastal beaches and lagoons, and the intertidal zone, however, that the perciforms have attained their ultimate achievement. Here the enormous variety attests to the adaptive effectiveness of the group. See also Actinopterygii; Osteichthyes.

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IN BRIEF: n. - One of the largest natural groups of fishes of both marine and fresh water: true perches.

WordNet: Perciformes
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: one of the largest natural groups of fishes of both marine and fresh water: true perches; basses; tuna
  Synonyms: order Perciformes, Percomorphi, order Percomorphi

Wikipedia: Perciformes
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Perciformes

Yellow perch (Perca flavescens)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborders

many, see text

The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, is the largest order of vertebrates containing about 40% of all bony fish. Perciformes means perch-like. They belong to the ray-finned fish and comprise over 7000 species found in almost all aquatic environments. They are also the most variably sized order of vertebrates, ranging from the 7mm Schindleria brevipinguis to the 5mMakaira species. They first appeared and diversified in the Late Cretaceous.

Among well-known members of this group are cichlids, sunfish/bluegill, and of course perch.

Contents

Characteristics

Primitive perch Paleoperca proxima

Perciformes are easy to recognize. The dorsal and anal fins are divided into anterior spiny and posterior soft-rayed portions, which may be partially or completely separated. The pelvic fins usually have one spine and up to five soft rays, positioned unusually far forward by the throat or under the belly. Scales are usually ctenoid, although sometimes they are cycloid or otherwise modified. Various other, more technical characters define the group.[clarification needed]

Taxonomy

Classification is controversial. As traditionally defined the Perciformes are almost certainly paraphyletic. Other orders that should possibly be included as suborders are the Scorpaeniformes, Tetraodontiformes, and Pleuronectiformes. Of the presently recognized suborders several may be paraphyletic as well.

These are grouped by suborder/superfamily, generally following the text Fishes of the World.

References

External links

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v • d • e
Extant actinopterygii orders by subclass
Kingdom Animalia · Phylum Chordata · Subphylum Vertebrata · Infraphylum Gnathostomata · Superclass Osteichthyes
Chondrostei
Neopterygii
Lepisosteiformes · Amiiformes · Osteoglossiformes · Hiodontiformes · Elopiformes · Albuliformes · Notacanthiformes · Anguilliformes · Saccopharyngiformes · Clupeiformes · Gonorynchiformes · Cypriniformes · Characiformes · Gymnotiformes · Siluriformes · Salmoniformes · Esociformes · Osmeriformes · Ateleopodiformes · Stomiiformes · Aulopiformes · Myctophiformes · Lampriformes · Polymixiiformes · Percopsiformes · Batrachoidiformes · Lophiiformes · Gadiformes · Ophidiiformes · Mugiliformes · Atheriniformes · Beloniformes · Cetomimiformes · Cyprinodontiformes · Stephanoberyciformes · Beryciformes · Zeiformes · Gasterosteiformes · Syngnathiformes · Synbranchiformes · Tetraodontiformes · Pleuronectiformes · Scorpaeniformes · Perciformes

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