How many living species are included in the order Clupeiformes?

The order Clupeiformes includes more than 400 living species of bony fishes.1

While exact classification can vary among authorities, the order is generally recognized to include families such as Clupeidae (which encompasses herrings and sardines), Engraulidae (anchovies), Chirocentridae, Denticipitidae, Sundasalangidae, and Pristigasteridae.2

These species exhibit diverse environmental adaptations:
* Approximately half of the living species are strictly marine.2
* The remaining species are either anadromous, meaning they live in the sea but migrate to fresh water to breed, or are entirely freshwater-dwelling.2
* About 70 percent of these species are found in tropical waters.2

Due to their abundance, clupeiforms are among the most economically important fishes globally, with about 20 species accounting for more than one-third of the total world fish catch.1