Syngnathiformes

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Syngnathiformes
Temporal range: Santonian–present[1]
Aulostomidae
), head in natural pose
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
(unranked): Acanthomorpha
Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Clade: Percomorpha
Order: Syngnathiformes
Type species
Syngnathus acus
Families

See text

The Syngnathiformes

sea moths, trumpetfishes and seahorses.[2]

These fishes have elongated, narrow, bodies surrounded by a series of bony rings, and small, tubular mouths. The shape of their mouth—in at least

syngnathids—allows for the ingestion of prey at close range via suction.[3] Several groups of Syngnathiformes live among seaweed
and swim with their bodies aligned vertically, to blend in with the stems. The most defining characteristic of this order is their reverse sexual system. In this order, males conduct in specialized brooding and rearing of the embryos. The males house eggs in an osmoregulated pouch or adhere eggs to their tail until the eggs reach maturity.

The name Syngnathiformes means "conjoined-jaws". It is derived from Ancient Greek syn (συν, "together") + gnathos (γνάθος, "jaw"). The ending for fish orders "-formes" is derived from Latin and indicates "of similar form".

Fossil record

Eekaulostomus, an early fossil syngnathiform

The earliest known syngnathiform is Gasteroramphosus from the late Cretaceous (either Santonian or Campanian) of Italy, which is similar in form to Marcroramphosus but which has some characters which are suggestive of a relation to Gasterosteoidei.[4] However, most recent studies have reaffirmed it being a syngnathiform.[1][5] The second oldest syngnathiform is the syngnathoid Eekaulostomus from the early Paleocene (Danian) of Mexico.[1] Many fossil syngnathiform families are known from the Paleogene.[6]

Systematics and taxonomy

In some models, these fishes are placed as the

Gasterosteiformes together with the sticklebacks and their relatives.[7] Better supported by the evidence now available is the traditional belief[8] that they are better considered separate orders, and indeed among the Acanthopterygii, they might not be particularly close relatives at all.[9]

In addition, the Pegasidae (dragonfishes and sea moths) are variously placed with the pipefish or the stickleback lineage. While the placement in Syngnathiformes seems to be correct for the latter, the former is possibly an actinopterygian order of its own.[9] Following the convention of the major fish classification organizations (Fish Base, ITIS, Encyclopedia of Life), the Indostomidae are currently placed in the Gasterosteiformes.

Fistulariidae, and probably should be included with these.[9]

The order as set out in the 5th Edition of Fishes of the World is classified as follows:[11]

Other authorities are of the view that without the inclusion of other taxa within Syngnathiformes then the order is

benthic clade and this classification is:[12][13]

In their study Longo et al (2017) found that there were short distances between the groupings on the Syngnathiform phylogenetic tree and this supported a hypothesis that there had been a rapid but ancient radiation in the basal Syngnathiformes.[13]

Fossil families

The following fossil families are known:[6]

References

  1. ^
    PMID 37251781
    .
  2. ^ FishBase (2005): Order Summary for Syngnathiformes. Version of 2005-FEB-15. Retrieved 19 Aug 2008.
  3. ^ Langley, Liz (26 November 2013). "Why Does the Seahorse Have Its Odd Head? Mystery Solved – News Watch". Newswatch.nationalgeographic.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2013.
  4. ISBN 978-1119220817
    .
  5. ISSN 1374-8505
    .
  6. ^
    ISSN 1477-2019
    .
  7. ^ E.G. Helfman et al. (1997), ITIS (2004), Nelson (2006)
  8. ^ E.g. McAllister (1968)
  9. ^
    PMID 17709262.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  10. Copeia 1978(3): 517–529. JPEG abstract and first page text
  11. ^ Nelson, JS; Grande, TC & Wilson, MVH (2016). "Classification of fishes from Fishes of the World 5th Edition" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 March 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  12. PMID 28683774
    .
  13. ^
    S2CID 13929577
    . Abstract.

External links
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