Fish species numbers in the FishBase classification list


     The classification schema above genus level is limited in FishBase to classes, orders, families and subfamilies ranks (the latter not yet displayed). It has the advantage to keep it simple; it has the disadvantage to ignore some important clades in fish phylogeny like Chondrichthyes, Teleostei, Acanthomorpha, Percomorpha.

     In general, it follows Nelson's Fishes of the World (2006) with the noticeable exception of Elasmobranchii and Holocephali being elevated to class rank But at family level, FishBase may follow Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes that is updated more frequently to integrate new stable groupings.

     Number of taxa from Orders to Species are given for what they are, a useful tool for information and database management. The design of some analyses (so-called Biodiversity analyses) that uses these numbers must be carefully assessed before processing (see footnote for some critical points).

     Catalog of Fishes gives also number of species, including available names in the sense of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, which we don't have. Possible discrepancies between the species and genera numbers are explained in Bailly (2010). As Catalog of Fishes is updated ahead of FishBase, the numbers given there are in general more accurate.

     Wiley and Johnson published a new classification for Teleostei (2010). They propose to stabilize several hypotheses published recently or some (long) time ago by listing the known evidences (synapomorphies). FishBase will follow this new arrangement as soon as the ichthyological community endorses it, e.g., as published in a next version of Fishes of the World. In the meantime, to avoid confusion for non-specialists, we hold on the current one.

Note that the numbers of species given below does not take into account subspecies.

Total count of Genera: 5115
Total count of Species: 33531


Number of Valid
Kingdom Phylum
Class
#6
Order
#64
Family
#549
Orders Families Genera Species
Animalia
Chordata
Myxini 1 1 6 78
Myxiniformes 1 6 78
Myxinidae 6 78
Cephalaspidomorphi 1 3 10 46
Petromyzontiformes 3 10 46
Petromyzontidae 8 42
Geotriidae 1 1
Mordaciidae 1 3
Elasmobranchii 12 51 202 1180
Hexanchiformes 2 4 6
Hexanchidae 3 4
Chlamydoselachidae 1 2
Heterodontiformes 1 1 9
Heterodontidae 1 9
Orectolobiformes 7 13 45
Rhincodontidae 1 1
Parascylliidae 2 8
Brachaeluridae 1 2
Orectolobidae 3 12
Hemiscylliidae 2 17
Stegostomatidae 1 1
Ginglymostomatidae 3 4
Lamniformes 7 10 16
Odontaspididae 2 4
Mitsukurinidae 1 1
Pseudocarchariidae 1 1
Lamnidae 3 5
Megachasmidae 1 1
Cetorhinidae 1 1
Alopiidae 1 3
Carcharhiniformes 8 51 289
Scyliorhinidae 17 154
Proscylliidae 3 7
Pseudotriakidae 3 4
Leptochariidae 1 1
Triakidae 9 46
Hemigaleidae 4 8
Carcharhinidae 12 59
Sphyrnidae 2 10
Squaliformes 7 23 130
Dalatiidae 7 9
Etmopteridae 5 49
Somniosidae 5 17
Oxynotidae 1 5
Centrophoridae 2 16
Squalidae 2 32
Echinorhinidae 1 2
Pristiophoriformes 1 2 8
Pristiophoridae 2 8
Squatiniformes 1 1 24
Squatinidae 1 24
Torpediniformes 4 13 66
Narkidae 6 12
Narcinidae 4 30
Hypnidae 1 1
Torpedinidae 2 23
Rhinopristiformes 2 12 58
Pristidae 2 7
Rhinobatidae 10 51
Rajiformes 3 35 298
Rajidae 19 180
Arhynchobatidae 13 103
Anacanthobatidae 3 15
Myliobatiformes 8 37 231
Hexatrygonidae 1 1
Dasyatidae 19 97
Potamotrygonidae 4 28
Urotrygonidae 2 19
Gymnuridae 1 14
Plesiobatidae 1 1
Urolophidae 3 29
Myliobatidae 6 42
Holocephali 1 3 6 51
Chimaeriformes 3 6 51
Callorhinchidae 1 3
Chimaeridae 2 40
Rhinochimaeridae 3 8
Actinopterygii 46 487 4887 32168
Polypteriformes 1 2 14
Polypteridae 2 14
Acipenseriformes 2 6 27
Acipenseridae 4 25
Polyodontidae 2 2
Lepisosteiformes 1 2 7
Lepisosteidae 2 7
Amiiformes 1 1 1
Amiidae 1 1
Osteoglossiformes 7 32 252
Osteoglossidae 2 6
Arapaimidae 2 5
Pantodontidae 1 1
Hiodontidae 1 2
Notopteridae 4 10
Mormyridae 21 227
Gymnarchidae 1 1
Elopiformes 2 2 9
Elopidae 1 7
Megalopidae 1 2
Albuliformes 1 3 13
Albulidae 3 13
Notacanthiformes 2 7 28
Halosauridae 3 16
Notacanthidae 4 12
Anguilliformes 16 157 907
Protanguillidae 1 1
Anguillidae 2 20
Heterenchelyidae 2 8
Moringuidae 2 15
Chlopsidae 8 22
Myrocongridae 1 5
Muraenidae 16 199
Synaphobranchidae 12 38
Ophichthidae 61 318
Colocongridae 2 9
Congridae 30 194
Muraenesocidae 6 15
Derichthyidae 2 3
Nemichthyidae 3 9
Serrivomeridae 2 9
Nettastomatidae 7 42
Saccopharyngiformes 4 5 28
Cyematidae 2 2
Saccopharyngidae 1 10
Eurypharyngidae 1 1
Monognathidae 1 15
Clupeiformes 6 84 390
Denticipitidae 1 1
Clupeidae 54 194
Dussumieriidae 2 9
Engraulidae 17 146
Chirocentridae 1 2
Pristigasteridae 9 38
Gonorynchiformes 4 7 37
Chanidae 1 1
Gonorynchidae 1 5
Kneriidae 4 30
Phractolaemidae 1 1
Cypriniformes 11 493 4354
Cyprinidae 368 3076
Psilorhynchidae 1 27
Cobitidae 29 257
Balitoridae 36 251
Nemacheilidae 41 651
Serpenticobitidae 1 3
Vaillantellidae 1 3
Ellopostomatidae 1 2
Barbuccidae 1 2
Gyrinocheilidae 1 3
Catostomidae 13 79
Characiformes 22 282 2135
Citharinidae 3 8
Distichodontidae 16 102
Alestidae 18 119
Hepsetidae 1 6
Hemiodontidae 5 31
Parodontidae 3 32
Curimatidae 8 105
Prochilodontidae 3 21
Anostomidae 14 156
Chilodontidae 2 8
Erythrinidae 3 18
Lebiasinidae 7 77
Gasteropelecidae 3 9
Ctenoluciidae 2 7
Acestrorhynchidae 7 26
Cynodontidae 3 8
Serrasalmidae 16 97
Characidae 144 1112
Bryconidae 4 49
Triportheidae 5 23
Iguanodectidae 3 31
Crenuchidae 12 90
Siluriformes 37 493 3736
Diplomystidae 2 6
Lacantuniidae 1 1
Ictaluridae 7 51
Bagridae 21 233
Cranoglanididae 1 5
Austroglanididae 1 3
Siluridae 12 106
Schilbeidae 15 67
Pangasiidae 4 28
Amblycipitidae 4 37
Amphiliidae 13 98
Akysidae 5 57
Sisoridae 18 216
Erethistidae 7 45
Clariidae 15 116
Heteropneustidae 1 5
Claroteidae 11 82
Chacidae 1 4
Olyridae 1 7
Malapteruridae 2 21
Ariidae 30 153
Anchariidae 2 6
Plotosidae 10 41
Mochokidae 9 209
Doradidae 33 94
Auchenipteridae 22 119
Pimelodidae 32 112
Pseudopimelodidae 6 39
Heptapteridae 24 213
Cetopsidae 5 42
Aspredinidae 13 42
Nematogenyidae 1 1
Trichomycteridae 41 277
Callichthyidae 9 205
Loricariidae 112 931
Scoloplacidae 1 6
Astroblepidae 1 58
Gymnotiformes 5 35 213
Sternopygidae 6 37
Apteronotidae 15 88
Rhamphichthyidae 3 17
Hypopomidae 9 31
Gymnotidae 2 40
Esociformes 2 4 14
Esocidae 1 7
Umbridae 3 7
Osmeriformes 13 79 323
Argentinidae 2 27
Microstomatidae 3 19
Bathylagidae 8 22
Opisthoproctidae 8 19
Alepocephalidae 19 98
Platytroctidae 13 39
Leptochilichthyidae 1 3
Lepidogalaxiidae 1 1
Osmeridae 6 15
Plecoglossidae 1 1
Salangidae 7 20
Retropinnidae 3 6
Galaxiidae 7 53
Salmoniformes 1 11 224
Salmonidae 11 224
Stomiiformes 4 52 414
Gonostomatidae 8 31
Sternoptychidae 10 73
Phosichthyidae 7 24
Stomiidae 27 286
Ateleopodiformes 1 4 13
Ateleopodidae 4 13
Aulopiformes 16 44 261
Aulopidae 4 12
Chlorophthalmidae 2 17
Paraulopidae 1 14
Ipnopidae 5 30
Bathysauroididae 1 1
Scopelarchidae 4 18
Notosudidae 3 17
Giganturidae 1 2
Synodontidae 3 74
Bathysauridae 1 2
Paralepididae 12 58
Anotopteridae 1 3
Evermannellidae 3 8
Omosudidae 1 1
Alepisauridae 1 2
Pseudotrichonotidae 1 2
Myctophiformes 2 36 254
Neoscopelidae 3 6
Myctophidae 33 248
Lampriformes 7 12 23
Lampridae 1 2
Veliferidae 2 2
Lophotidae 2 4
Radiicephalidae 1 1
Trachipteridae 3 10
Regalecidae 2 3
Stylephoridae 1 1
Polymixiiformes 1 1 10
Polymixiidae 1 10
Percopsiformes 3 7 10
Percopsidae 1 2
Aphredoderidae 1 1
Amblyopsidae 5 7
Gadiformes 10 84 618
Muraenolepididae 2 9
Bregmacerotidae 1 14
Euclichthyidae 1 1
Macrouridae 35 405
Moridae 18 108
Melanonidae 1 2
Gadidae 13 23
Lotidae 6 22
Phycidae 2 11
Merlucciidae 5 23
Ophidiiformes 5 119 532
Ophidiidae 50 258
Carapidae 8 36
Bythitidae 53 212
Aphyonidae 6 23
Parabrotulidae 2 3
Batrachoidiformes 1 23 83
Batrachoididae 23 83
Lophiiformes 18 72 359
Lophiidae 4 28
Antennariidae 13 47
Tetrabrachiidae 2 2
Lophichthyidae 1 1
Brachionichthyidae 5 14
Chaunacidae 2 22
Ogcocephalidae 10 78
Caulophrynidae 2 5
Neoceratiidae 1 1
Melanocetidae 1 6
Himantolophidae 1 22
Diceratiidae 2 6
Oneirodidae 16 64
Thaumatichthyidae 2 8
Centrophrynidae 1 1
Ceratiidae 2 4
Gigantactinidae 2 23
Linophrynidae 5 27
Gobiesociformes 1 48 165
Gobiesocidae 48 165
Atheriniformes 10 51 354
Atherinidae 14 71
Bedotiidae 2 16
Melanotaeniidae 7 91
Pseudomugilidae 3 18
Atherinopsidae 13 110
Notocheiridae 1 1
Isonidae 1 5
Telmatherinidae 5 18
Dentatherinidae 1 1
Phallostethidae 4 23
Cyprinodontiformes 10 131 1300
Aplocheilidae 2 14
Nothobranchiidae 12 266
Rivulidae 38 412
Profundulidae 1 9
Fundulidae 3 44
Valenciidae 1 3
Goodeidae 18 49
Poeciliidae 44 349
Cyprinodontidae 9 136
Anablepidae 3 18
Beloniformes 6 34 271
Scomberesocidae 2 5
Belonidae 10 38
Hemiramphidae 8 60
Zenarchopteridae 5 63
Exocoetidae 7 68
Adrianichthyidae 2 37
Stephanoberyciformes 4 11 70
Stephanoberycidae 4 4
Hispidoberycidae 1 1
Melamphaidae 5 63
Gibberichthyidae 1 2
Beryciformes 7 30 161
Monocentridae 2 4
Trachichthyidae 8 49
Anomalopidae 6 9
Diretmidae 3 4
Anoplogastridae 1 2
Berycidae 2 10
Holocentridae 8 83
Cetomimiformes 3 18 33
Rondeletiidae 1 2
Barbourisiidae 1 1
Cetomimidae 16 30
Zeiformes 6 16 33
Cyttidae 1 3
Oreosomatidae 4 10
Parazenidae 3 4
Zeniontidae 3 7
Grammicolepididae 3 3
Zeidae 2 6
Gasterosteiformes 5 11 29
Hypoptychidae 2 2
Gasterosteidae 5 18
Aulorhynchidae 1 1
Indostomidae 1 3
Pegasidae 2 5
Syngnathiformes 5 65 321
Aulostomidae 1 3
Fistulariidae 1 4
Centriscidae 5 12
Solenostomidae 1 6
Syngnathidae 57 296
Synbranchiformes 3 13 119
Synbranchidae 4 23
Mastacembelidae 3 86
Chaudhuriidae 6 10
Scorpaeniformes 36 290 1634
Sebastidae 7 131
Setarchidae 3 7
Neosebastidae 2 18
Scorpaenidae 25 218
Apistidae 3 3
Tetrarogidae 17 40
Synanceiidae 9 36
Eschmeyeridae 1 1
Perryenidae 1 1
Aploactinidae 17 48
Pataecidae 3 3
Gnathanacanthidae 1 1
Congiopodidae 3 8
Dactylopteridae 2 7
Plectrogeniidae 1 2
Parabembridae 1 2
Bembridae 4 9
Triglidae 8 125
Peristediidae 6 44
Hoplichthyidae 1 13
Platycephalidae 18 80
Anoplopomatidae 2 2
Hexagrammidae 5 12
Normanichthyidae 1 1
Rhamphocottidae 1 1
Ereuniidae 2 3
Bathylutichthyidae 1 1
Cottidae 62 257
Cottocomephoridae 4 9
Comephoridae 1 2
Abyssocottidae 7 24
Hemitripteridae 3 8
Psychrolutidae 9 40
Agonidae 21 46
Cyclopteridae 6 27
Liparidae 32 404
Mugiliformes 1 20 78
Mugilidae 20 78
Perciformes 163 1753 11095
Centropomidae 1 12
Ambassidae 8 51
Percichthyidae 10 38
Perciliidae 1 2
Howellidae 3 9
Lateolabracidae 1 2
Latidae 3 13
Acropomatidae 7 32
Moronidae 2 6
Polyprionidae 2 4
Dinopercidae 2 2
Serranidae 75 540
Ostracoberycidae 1 3
Symphysanodontidae 1 12
Centrogenyidae 1 1
Pseudochromidae 24 152
Grammatidae 2 13
Callanthiidae 2 16
Plesiopidae 12 50
Opistognathidae 3 80
Terapontidae 16 52
Banjosidae 1 1
Kuhliidae 1 13
Centrarchidae 8 38
Percidae 11 237
Priacanthidae 4 19
Apogonidae 38 351
Epigonidae 7 44
Dinolestidae 1 1
Sillaginidae 5 34
Malacanthidae 5 45
Lactariidae 1 1
Scombropidae 1 3
Pomatomidae 1 1
Rachycentridae 1 1
Echeneidae 3 8
Carangidae 30 146
Nematistiidae 1 1
Coryphaenidae 1 2
Menidae 1 1
Leiognathidae 9 48
Bramidae 7 20
Caristiidae 4 19
Arripidae 1 4
Emmelichthyidae 3 17
Lutjanidae 17 112
Caesionidae 4 23
Lobotidae 1 2
Datnioididae 1 5
Hapalogenyidae 1 8
Gerreidae 8 53
Haemulidae 19 133
Sparidae 37 149
Elassomatidae 1 7
Lethrinidae 5 40
Nemipteridae 5 67
Sciaenidae 66 283
Polynemidae 8 42
Mullidae 6 87
Pempheridae 2 34
Glaucosomatidae 1 4
Leptobramidae 1 1
Bathyclupeidae 1 7
Toxotidae 1 7
Dichistiidae 1 2
Kyphosidae 12 54
Parascorpididae 1 1
Drepaneidae 1 3
Monodactylidae 2 6
Chaetodontidae 12 129
Pomacanthidae 8 89
Enoplosidae 1 1
Pentacerotidae 7 13
Polycentridae 2 3
Nandidae 3 9
Badidae 2 29
Pristolepididae 1 5
Oplegnathidae 1 7
Cirrhitidae 12 33
Chironemidae 1 6
Aplodactylidae 1 5
Cheilodactylidae 4 27
Latridae 3 5
Cepolidae 5 23
Cichlidae 235 1698
Embiotocidae 13 24
Pomacentridae 29 392
Labridae 71 525
Odacidae 6 12
Scaridae 10 100
Bathymasteridae 3 7
Zoarcidae 60 303
Stichaeidae 35 70
Cryptacanthodidae 1 4
Pholidae 4 15
Anarhichadidae 2 5
Ptilichthyidae 1 1
Zaproridae 1 1
Scytalinidae 1 1
Bovichtidae 3 11
Pseudaphritidae 1 2
Eleginopsidae 1 1
Nototheniidae 14 54
Harpagiferidae 1 11
Artedidraconidae 4 30
Bathydraconidae 11 17
Channichthyidae 11 25
Chiasmodontidae 4 32
Champsodontidae 1 13
Trichodontidae 2 2
Ammodytidae 7 31
Trachinidae 2 9
Uranoscopidae 8 53
Trichonotidae 1 10
Creediidae 8 19
Leptoscopidae 3 5
Percophidae 11 50
Pinguipedidae 7 83
Cheimarrichthyidae 1 1
Pholidichthyidae 1 2
Tripterygiidae 29 175
Labrisomidae 16 120
Clinidae 26 88
Chaenopsidae 14 96
Dactyloscopidae 9 48
Blenniidae 58 400
Icosteidae 1 1
Callionymidae 17 191
Draconettidae 2 15
Rhyacichthyidae 2 3
Odontobutidae 6 22
Eleotridae 32 179
Thalasseleotrididae 2 3
Gobiidae 249 1771
Kraemeriidae 2 9
Microdesmidae 12 86
Xenisthmidae 6 14
Schindleriidae 1 3
Kurtidae 1 2
Ephippidae 8 15
Scatophagidae 2 4
Siganidae 1 29
Luvaridae 1 1
Zanclidae 1 1
Acanthuridae 6 83
Scombrolabracidae 1 1
Sphyraenidae 1 27
Gempylidae 16 24
Trichiuridae 10 45
Scombridae 15 54
Xiphiidae 1 1
Istiophoridae 5 11
Amarsipidae 1 1
Centrolophidae 7 31
Nomeidae 3 16
Ariommatidae 1 7
Tetragonuridae 1 3
Stromateidae 3 15
Anabantidae 4 33
Osphronemidae 14 133
Helostomatidae 1 1
Channidae 2 37
Caproidae 2 18
Pleuronectiformes 11 131 778
Psettodidae 1 3
Citharidae 4 6
Scophthalmidae 4 9
Paralichthyidae 14 110
Bothidae 20 163
Achiropsettidae 4 4
Pleuronectidae 40 103
Samaridae 3 27
Achiridae 7 35
Soleidae 31 174
Cynoglossidae 3 144
Tetraodontiformes 10 106 438
Triacanthodidae 11 23
Triacanthidae 4 7
Balistidae 12 42
Monacanthidae 27 107
Aracanidae 6 12
Ostraciidae 7 25
Triodontidae 1 1
Tetraodontidae 28 200
Diodontidae 7 17
Molidae 3 4
Sarcopterygii 3 4 4 8
Coelacanthiformes 1 1 2
Latimeriidae 1 2
Ceratodontiformes 1 1 1
Neoceratodontidae 1 1
Lepidosireniformes 2 2 5
Lepidosirenidae 1 1
Protopteridae 1 4


Footnote: Minelli makes a definitive point about ranking as being an arbitrary and subjective decision: "The main difficulty resides in determining whether two clades in distant parts of the phylogenetic tree deserve [being] acknowledged [at] the same rank or not." (Minelli, 2009:11). "But all this amounts to counting fruit by adding apples and cherries." (Minelli, 2009:12). In other words, if counting orders, families, and genera in a narrow context (e.g., number of genera in subfamilies of the same family) may be locally sensible (within a phylogenetic tree / classification), counting families across classes or orders is most often irrelevant: for instance, why assigning clown-fishes only the subfamily rank (Pomacentridae: Amphiprioninae) while the Moorish idol has a family of its own (Zanclidae), and not a subfamily in Acanthuridae?

References:

Bailly, N., 2010. Why there may be discrepancies in the assessment of scientific names between the Catalog of Fishes and FishBase. Electronic document. [Version 2, May 6th, 2010]. http://www.fishbase.org/Nomenclature/FBCofFNames.php

Eschmeyer, W.N. (ed.). Catalog of Fishes. Successive updated online versions http://research.calacademy.org/research/Ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp.

Eschmeyer, W.N. and J.D. Fong. Species of Fishes by family/subfamily. Successive updated online versions. http://research.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/SpeciesByFamily.asp.

Minelli, A., 2009. Perspectives in animal phylogeny. Oxford University Press.

Nelson, J.S., 2006. Fishes of the World. 4th ed. Hoboken (New Jersey, USA): John Wiley & Sons. xix+601 p. [Ref. 58010]

Wiley, E.O. and G.D. Johnson, 2010. pp. 123-182. A teleost classification based on monophyletic groups. In: Origin and phylogenetic interrelationships of Teleosts. Honoring Gloria Arratia. Proceedings of the International Symposium at the ASIH Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, 2007. (Nelson et al., eds). München (Germany): Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil. [Ref. 84927]

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