Syngnathiformes
Encyclopedia
Syngnathiformes is an order
of ray-finned fishes that includes the pipefish
es and seahorse
s.
These fishes have elongate, narrow, bodies surrounded by a series of bony rings, and small, tubular mouths. Several groups live among seaweed
and swim with the body aligned vertically, to blend in with the stems.
The name "Syngnathiformes" means "conjoined-jaws". It is derived from Ancient Greek
syn (συν, "together") + gnathos (γνάθος, "jaw"). The ending for fish orders "-formes" is derived from Latin
and indicates "of similar form".
together with the stickleback
s and their relatives. Better supported by the evidence nowadays available is the traditional view that they are better considered separate orders, and indeed among the Acanthopterygii
they might be not particularly close relatives at all.
In addition, the armoured stickleback (Indostomidae) and the Pegasidae
(dragonfishes and sea moths) are variously placed with the pipefish or the stickleback lineage. While the placement in Syngnathiformes seems to be correct for the latter, the former is possibly an actinopterygian order of its own. Following the convention of the major fish classification organizations (Fish Base, ITIS, Encyclopedia of Life), Indostomidae is currently placed in the Gasterosteiformes.
Morphological
traits uniting the flying gurnards (Dactylopteridae) and the Syngnathiformes have long been noted. Most authors however placed them with the Scorpaeniformes
. However, DNA sequence
data quite consistently supports the view that the latter are paraphyletic with the Gasterosteiformes sensu lato. As it seems, flying gurnards are particularly close to Aulostomidae
and Fistulariidae, and probably should be included with these.
A tentative list of the families in the phylogenetic sequence can be given as follows:
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
of ray-finned fishes that includes the pipefish
Pipefish
Pipefishes or pipe-fishes are a subfamily of small fishes, which, together with the seahorses, form the family Syngnathidae.-Anatomy:...
es and seahorse
Seahorse
Seahorses compose the fish genus Hippocampus within the family Syngnathidae, in order Syngnathiformes. Syngnathidae also includes the pipefishes. "Hippocampus" comes from the Ancient Greek hippos meaning "horse" and kampos meaning “sea monster”.There are nearly 50 species of seahorse...
s.
These fishes have elongate, narrow, bodies surrounded by a series of bony rings, and small, tubular mouths. Several groups live among seaweed
Seaweed
Seaweed is a loose, colloquial term encompassing macroscopic, multicellular, benthic marine algae. The term includes some members of the red, brown and green algae...
and swim with the body aligned vertically, to blend in with the stems.
The name "Syngnathiformes" means "conjoined-jaws". It is derived from Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
syn (συν, "together") + gnathos (γνάθος, "jaw"). The ending for fish orders "-formes" is derived from Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and indicates "of similar form".
Systematics and taxonomy
In some treatments, these fishes are placed as the suborder Syngnathoidei of the order GasterosteiformesGasterosteiformes
Gasterosteiformes is an order of ray-finned fishes that includes the sticklebacks and relatives.In the Gasterosteiformes, the pelvic girdle is never attached to the cleithra directly, and the supramaxillary, orbitosphenoid, and basisphenoid bones are absent. The body is often partly or completely...
together with the stickleback
Stickleback
The Gasterosteidae are a family of fish including the sticklebacks. FishBase currently recognises sixteen species in the family, grouped in five genera. However several of the species have a number of recognised subspecies, and the taxonomy of the family is thought to be in need of revision...
s and their relatives. Better supported by the evidence nowadays available is the traditional view that they are better considered separate orders, and indeed among the Acanthopterygii
Acanthopterygii
Acanthopterygii is a superorder of bony fishes in the class Actinopterygii. Members of this superorder are also known as the ray-finned fishes for the characteristic sharp, bony rays in their fins; however this name is also often given to the class Actinopterygii as a whole.Orders:* Order...
they might be not particularly close relatives at all.
In addition, the armoured stickleback (Indostomidae) and the Pegasidae
Pegasidae
The seamoths are a family, the Pegasidae, of fish found in coastal tropical waters.They are distinguished by flattened bodies, the presence of large, wing-like, pectoral fins, and a body encased in thick, bony plates. Most species also have an elongated snout in front of their jaws...
(dragonfishes and sea moths) are variously placed with the pipefish or the stickleback lineage. While the placement in Syngnathiformes seems to be correct for the latter, the former is possibly an actinopterygian order of its own. Following the convention of the major fish classification organizations (Fish Base, ITIS, Encyclopedia of Life), Indostomidae is currently placed in the Gasterosteiformes.
Morphological
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
traits uniting the flying gurnards (Dactylopteridae) and the Syngnathiformes have long been noted. Most authors however placed them with the Scorpaeniformes
Scorpaeniformes
Scorpaeniformes is an order of ray-finned fish, but it has also been called the Scleroparei.They are known as "mail-cheeked" fishes due to their distinguishing characteristic, the suborbital stay: a backwards extension of the third circumorbital bone across the cheek to the preoperculum, to which...
. However, DNA sequence
DNA sequence
The sequence or primary structure of a nucleic acid is the composition of atoms that make up the nucleic acid and the chemical bonds that bond those atoms. Because nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are unbranched polymers, this specification is equivalent to specifying the sequence of...
data quite consistently supports the view that the latter are paraphyletic with the Gasterosteiformes sensu lato. As it seems, flying gurnards are particularly close to Aulostomidae
Aulostomidae
The family Aulostomidae is a monogeneric family of highly specialized, tubularly-elongated marine fishes commonly known as trumpetfishes. Aulostomids belong to the order Syngnathiformes, along with the seahorses and the similarly built cornetfishes...
and Fistulariidae, and probably should be included with these.
A tentative list of the families in the phylogenetic sequence can be given as follows:
- CentriscidaeCentriscidaeCentriscidae is the family of snipefishes, shrimpfishes, and bellowfishes. A small family, consisting of only about a dozen marine species, they are of an unusual appearance, as reflected by the common names...
– razorfishRazorfish-Fish:A common name used for three unrelated groups of fishes:* The genera Aeoliscus and Centriscus of the family Centriscidae, also known as shrimpfishes* The genus Xyrichtys of the family Labridae* The species Aeoliscus strigatus-Bivalve:...
es, shrimpfishShrimpfishShrimpfish, also called razorfish, are five small species of marine fish in the subfamily Centriscinae of the family Centriscidae...
es and snipefishes (including Macroramphosidae) - PegasidaePegasidaeThe seamoths are a family, the Pegasidae, of fish found in coastal tropical waters.They are distinguished by flattened bodies, the presence of large, wing-like, pectoral fins, and a body encased in thick, bony plates. Most species also have an elongated snout in front of their jaws...
– dragonfishes and sea moths (tentatively placed here) - SolenostomidaeFalse pipefishThe ghost pipefishes are a small family Solenostomidae in the order Syngnathiformes. The family consists of just a single genus, Solenostomus, with five species. Ghostpipefishes are related to pipefishes and seahorses...
– false pipefishes, ghost pipefishes and tubemouth fishes - SyngnathidaeSyngnathidaeSyngnathidae is a family of fish which includes the seahorses, the pipefishes, and the weedy and leafy sea dragons. The name is derived from Greek, meaning "fused jaw" - syn meaning fused or together, and gnathus meaning jaws. This fused jaw trait is something the entire family has in common...
– seahorseSeahorseSeahorses compose the fish genus Hippocampus within the family Syngnathidae, in order Syngnathiformes. Syngnathidae also includes the pipefishes. "Hippocampus" comes from the Ancient Greek hippos meaning "horse" and kampos meaning “sea monster”.There are nearly 50 species of seahorse...
s and true pipefishPipefishPipefishes or pipe-fishes are a subfamily of small fishes, which, together with the seahorses, form the family Syngnathidae.-Anatomy:...
es - AulostomidaeAulostomidaeThe family Aulostomidae is a monogeneric family of highly specialized, tubularly-elongated marine fishes commonly known as trumpetfishes. Aulostomids belong to the order Syngnathiformes, along with the seahorses and the similarly built cornetfishes...
– trumpetfishes - FistulariidaeCornetfishThe cornetfishes are a small family Fistulariidae of extremely elongated fishes in the order Syngnathiformes. The family consists of just a single genus Fistularia with four species, found worldwide in tropical and subtropical marine environments.Ranging up to in length, cornetfishes are as thin...
– cornetfishes