Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

Taxa

Tetraodontiformes

Fish Orders

Tetraodontiformes, also called Plectognathi, is an order of ray-finned fish that includes the pufferfishes and related taxa, represented by about 10 extant families and around 430 species found throughout the world, mostly in marine waters though a few occur in fresh water. The order has traditionally been classified as a suborder of Perciformes, though recent studies place it as a sister taxon to the anglerfish order Lophiiformes within a broader group, Acanthuriformes.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Order 1
Scientific Name
Tetraodontiformes 1
Member Species/Taxa Count
430 1
Geographic Distribution
Found throughout the world 1
Defining Characteristics
A body plan radically departing from the streamlined form typical of most fishes, often defended by scales modified into strong plates or spines 1
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Body forms range from nearly square or triangular boxfishes and globose pufferfishes to laterally compressed filefishes and triggerfishes 1
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 2
Connections

Parent Taxon Of

Giant sunfish, Species
Source Wikidata: Giant sunfish
Ocean Sunfish, Species
Source Wikidata: Ocean Sunfish
Paracanthostracion lindsayi, Species
Source Wikidata: Paracanthostracion lindsayi
Sharptail mola, Species
Source Sharptail mola (Wikidata)
Shortnose boxfish, Species
Source Wikidata: Shortnose boxfish
Sources
1. Tetraodontiformes - Wikipedia
  • Introduction (rank)
    an order of ray-finned fishes
  • Introduction (name)
    is an order of ray-finned fishes
  • Introduction (member count)
    10 extant families and at around 430 species overall
  • Introduction (distribution)
    They are found throughout the world
  • Description section (body plan)
    a variety of body shapes, all radical departures from the streamlined body plan typical of most fishes
  • Description section (body forms)
    range from nearly square or triangular (boxfishes), globose (pufferfishes) to laterally compressed (filefishes and triggerfishes)
View the Source
2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ211837, descriptionView the Source
Wikidata: Tetraodontiformes
Wikidata Q211837, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Wikidata: Ocean Sunfish
Parent Taxon Of: Ocean Sunfish, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Sharptail mola (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Sharptail mola, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Wikidata: Giant sunfish
Parent Taxon Of: Giant sunfish, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Wikidata: Shortnose boxfish
Parent Taxon Of: Shortnose boxfish, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Wikidata: Paracanthostracion lindsayi
Parent Taxon Of: Paracanthostracion lindsayi, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.