Largest and most diverse order of fish, with more than 9000 species in 148 families and 18 suborders (Nelson, 1994). Considered polyphyletic (Greenwood et al., 1966; Johnson, 1993).
Families treated:
Suborder Percoidei
Family Acropomatidae (lanternbellies) Table Acropomatidae
Family Apogonidae (cardinalfishes) Table Apogonidae
Family Bramidae (pomfrets) Table Bramidae
Family Carangidae (jacks, amberjacks, pompanos) Table Carangidae
Family Caristidae (veilfins or manefishes) Table Caristidae
Family Centracanthidae (centracanthids) Table Centracanthidae
Family Centropomidae (snooks) Table Centropomidae
Family Chaetodontidae (butterflyfishes) Table Chaetodontidae
Family Cheilodactylidae (fingerfins or morwongs) Table Cheilodactylidae
Family Coryphaenidae (dolphins or dolphinfishes) Table Coryphaenidae
Family Echeneidae (remoras and sharksuckers) Table Echeneidae
Family Gerreidae (mojarras) Table Gerreidae
Family Haemulidae (grunts) Table Haemulidae
Family Lobotidae (tripletails) Table Lobotidae
Family Lutjanidae (snappers) Table Lutjanidae
Family Malacanthidae (tilefishes) Table Malacanthidae
Family Mullidae (goatfishes) Table Mullidae
Family Pomacanthidae (angelfishes) Table Pomacanthidae
Family Pomatomidae (bluefishes) Table Pomatomidae
Family Priacanthidae (bigeyes) Table Priacanthidae
Family Rachycentridae (cobias) Table Rachycentridae
Family Sciaenidae (croakers and drums)Table Sciaenidae
Family Serranidae (sea basses and groupers) Table Serranidae
Family Sparidae (porgys and seabreams) Table Sparidae
22 geographic zones
Suborder Labroidei
Family Labridae (wrasses) Table Labridae
Family Scaridae (parrotfishes) Table Scaridae
22 geographic zones
Suborder Zoarcoidei
Family Zoarcidae (eelpouts) Table Zoarcidae
22 geographic zones
Suborder Notothenioidei
Family Nototheniidae (notothens) Table Nototheniidae
22 geographic zones
Suborder Trachinoidei
Family Percophidae (duckbills) Table Percophidae
Family Uranoscopidae (stargazers) Table Uranoscopidae
22 geographic zones
Suborder Blennioidei
Family Blenniidae (blennies) Table Blenniidae
Family Tripterygiidae (threefin blennies) Table Tripterygiidae
22 geographic zones
Suborder Gobiesocoidei
Family Gobiesocidae (clingfishes) Table Gobiesocidae
22 geographic zones
Suborder Callionymoidei
Family Callionymidae (dragonets) Table Callionymidae
22 geographic zones
Suborder Gobioidei
Family Gobiidae (gobies) Table Gobiidae
22 geographic zones
Suborder Acanthuroidei
Family Acanthuridae (surgeonfishes and unicornfishes) Table Acanthuridae
Family Ephippidae (spadefishes, batfishes and scats) Table Ephippidae
22 geographic zones
Suborder Scombrolabracoidei
Family Scombrolabracidae (black mackerels) Table Scombrolabracidae
22 geographic zones
Suborder Scombroidei
Family Gempylidae (snake mackerels) Table Gempylidae
Family Istiophoridae (billfishes and marlins) Table Istiophoridae
Family Scombridae (mackerels, tunas and bonitos) Table Scombridae
Family Sphyraenidae (barracudas) Table Sphyraenidae
Family Trichiuridae (hairtails, cutlassfishes, scabbardfishes) Table Trichiuridae
Family Xiphiidae (swordfishes) Table Xiphiidae
22 geographic zones
Suborder Stromateoidei
Family Centrolophidae (medusafishes) Table Centrolophidae
Family Nomeidae (flotsamfishes or driftfishes) Table Nomeidae
Family Tetragonuridae (squaretails) Table Tetragonuridae
Family Stromateidae (butterfishes) Table Stromateidae
22 geographic zones