Ophidiiformes

Ophidiiforms

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Ophidiiformes

Families

Carapidae (pearlfishes)
Ophidiidae (cusk eels)
Bythitidae (brotulas)
Aphyonidae (aphyonids)
Parabrotulidae (false brotulas)

Ophidiiformes is an order of ray-finned fish that includes the cusk eels, pearlfishes, brotulas, and others.

This order includes a variety of species, includes the deepest known, Abyssobrotula galatheae, found at 8,370 m in the Puerto Rico Trench.

The families Ranicipitidae (tadpole cod) and Euclichthyidae (eucla cod) have been classified in this order, but are now preferred in Gadiformes; Ranicipitidae has been absorbed within the family Gadidae.

Reference

J.G. Nielsen, D.M. Cohen, D.M. Markle, C.R. Robins, Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes): An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date (FAO, 1999)