Percoidei

fish suborder

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July 15, 2026

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The Percoidei is a suborder of bony fish within the order Perciformes, which is the largest group of fishes globally, comprising over 6,000 species across approximately 150 families. These fish are found in both marine and freshwater environments worldwide, from shallow ponds to ocean depths.1

The Percoidei are characterized by their perch-like appearance and are often distinguished by a spiny dorsal fin and typically three spines in the anal fin. This suborder includes many significant food and game fish, such as basses, perches, sunfishes, tunas, and mackerels. Their success is attributed to adaptable mouths and specialized swimming capabilities, making them versatile predators.213

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perciform
Annotated classification
…most generalized group, the suborder Percoidei, which contains the sea basses, sunfishes, perches, and fishes of many other families. The order is likely not monophyletic. As the subordinal name implies, the fishes composing it are “percoid,” or perchlike in appearance. The fishes in the other suborders have presumably evolved from…
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…most generalized group, the suborder Percoidei, which contains the sea basses, sunfishes, perches, and fishes of many other families. The order is likely not monophyletic. As the subordinal name implies, the fishes composing it are “percoid,” or perchlike in appearance. The fishes in the other suborders have presumably evolved from…
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