Gasterosteiformes

Gasterosteiformes is an order of ray-finned fishes that includes a number of familiar types, including the sticklebacks, pipefishes, and seahorses. There are about 260 species in 11 families.

In the gasterosteiforms, 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 covered with dermal plates.

The two suborders Gasterosteoidei and Syngnathoidei have also been ranked as two closely-related orders.

Reference

• J.S. Nelson, Fishes of the World

Referenced By