Order AULOPIFORMES

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Introduction

The order Aulopiformes as presented here follows the classification of Baldwin & Johnson (1996) and Sato & Nakabo (2002) based on morphological characters. Nelson (2006) recognised four extant suborders with 13 families, and one fossil suborder, whereas Eschmeyer (2011) recognises 17 families with 326 species. Johnson et al. (1996) erected the suborder Synodontoidei. Hartel & Stiassny (1986) reviewed relationships within the order. Baldwin & Johnson (1996) also discussed relationships within the group and providing information which differed from previous classifications. The classification of Baldwin & Johnson (1996) recognised Bathysauridae as distinct and related to Giganturidae, and placed Anotopterus within the Paralepedidae. Although Baldwin & Johnson (1996) retained four suborders, the arrangement of families differs considerably from earlier classifications. Sato & Nakabo (2002) erected Paraulopidae to include a group of species from Chlorophthalmidae and recognised Bathysauropsidae for Bathysauropsis and the Bathysauroididae for Bathysauroides. Nelson (2006) followed the classification of Baldwin & Johnson (1996), with the modifications proposed by Sato & Nakabo (2002) and recognised four suborders of extant fishes and two fossil suborders for the Aulopiformes. WIley & Johnson (2010) presented characters diagnosing the order based on the work of Johnson et al. (1996), Baldwin & Johnson (1996) and Sato & Nakabo (2002). Davis (2010) concluded that the Chlorophthalmoidei is paraphyletic. He presented a revised classification based on total evidence, and provided evidence supporting previously unrecognized clades, within some of the suborders. He recognised the suborder Aulopoidei (including the Aulopidae,and Synodontidae), the suborder Paraulopoidei (including only the family Paraulopidae) and the remaining families in the suborder Alepisauroidei. Within the latter suborder he moved some genera from the Papalepididae to the Alepisauridae and recognised the Sudidae as a distinct family. Tentatively we retain the classification of Wiley & Johnson (2010).

Aulopiforms range from benthic fishes inhabiting the continental shelf and slope, to pelagic, meso- and bathypelagic fishes. Many species are hermaphroditic.

General References

Baldwin, C.C. & Johnson, G.D. 1996. Interrelationships of Aulopiformes. pp. 355-404 in Stiassny, M.L.J., Parenti, L.R. & Johnson, G.D. (eds). Interrelationships of Fishes. San Diego : Academic Press 496 pp.

Davis, M.P. 2010. Evolutionary relationships of the Aulopiformes (Euteleostei: Cyclosquamata): a molecular and total evidence approach. pp. 431-470 in Nelson, J.S., Schultze, H.-P. & Wilson, M.V.H. Origin and Phylogenetic Interrelationships of Teleosts. München, Germany : Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil 480 pp.

Eschmeyer, W.N. 2011. Catalog of Fishes. Online version updated 29 March 2011. http://research.calacademy.org/redirect?url=http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/Ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp

Hartel, K.E. & Stiassny, L.J. 1986. The identification of larval Parasudis (Teleostei, Chlorophthalmidae); with notes on the anatomy and relationships of aulopiform fishes. Breviora. Museum of Comparative Zoology 487: 1-23

Johnson,G.D., Baldwin,C.C., Okiyama, M. & Tominaga, Y. 1996. Osteology and relationships of Pseudotrichonotus altivelis (Teleostei: Aulopifornies: Pseudotrichonotidae). Ichthyological Research 43: 17-45

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Sato, T. & Nakabo, T. 2002. Paraulopidae and Paraulopus, a new family and genus of aulopiform fishes with revised relationships within the order. Ichthyological Research 49: 25-46

Common Name References

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp. [214] (Lizardfishes)

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