paracanthopterygian

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

Oyster toadfish

Observe how an Anglerfish uses its unique anatomy to imitate a wriggling worm to lure in prey

Illustrated comparison of body shapes for various fish: a dark anglerfish with a bioluminescent lure, a round pancake batfish, a flat sargassum fish, a slender Eastern cleaner-clingfish, a dark deep-sea angler, a silvery beardfish, and a pale Southern cave fish. Each fish is labeled with its common and scientific name, representing different orders within Paracanthopterygii.

Illustration showing six fish species from the orders Batrachoidiformes and Gadiformes, each labeled with common and scientific names: oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), Pacific grenadier (Coryphaenoides acrolepis), cusk (Brosme brosme), and burbot (Lota lota).

A Sargassum fish, Histrio histrio, camouflaged among floating brown sargassum algae near the ocean surface in the tropical Pacific.

Related Questions

Oyster toadfish — Oyster toadfish Oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau).

paracanthopterygian

fish superorder

Also known as: Paracanthopterygii

Written by

Gareth Jon Nelson

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

paracanthopterygian, (superorder Paracanthopterygii), any member of a large group of predatory, primarily marine fishes that forms one of about six major branches of the Teleostei, or bony fishes. Approximately 1,340 living species of paracanthopterygian fishes have been described. They range in length from just a few centimeters to roughly 2 meters (about 7 feet). Well-known forms include the anglerfish (order Lophiiformes) and the cod (order Gadiformes). In general body form there is considerable diversity, but...

Discover the world with Britannica

Subscribe to Continue Reading

Free Trial | No Ads | Exclusive Content

Explore Subscriptions

DNA

Right

Mobile