Order Summary for Anguilliformes
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Main Ref |
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Order |
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Anguilliformes eels and morays |
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Class |
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Actinopterygii |
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Sister Order |
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Saccopharyngiformes 85 M years |
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Ref.. |
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First Fossil Record |
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middle Cretaceous |
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Occurs in |
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Marine |
Fresh |
Brackish |
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Remark |
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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. |
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Classetymology |
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Greek aktis = ray, thunderbolt, beam + Greek pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin. Ref. 45335. |
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Orderetymology |
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Latin, anguila = eel + Latin, forma = shape (Ref. 45335). |
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Families |
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Converted to PHP by Kit 06.10.09 |