Home›Fish›Taxonomy›TetraodontiformesTaxaTetraodontiformesFish OrdersReference and ClassificationThoroughly VerifiedTetraodontiformes, 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.FactsTetraodontiformesConnectionsSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsTaxonomic RankWell-attestedOrder 1Scientific NameWell-attestedTetraodontiformes 1Member Species/Taxa CountWell-attested430 1Geographic DistributionWell-attestedFound throughout the world 1Defining CharacteristicsWell-attestedA body plan radically departing from the streamlined form typical of most fishes, often defended by scales modified into strong plates or spines 1Member Count BandWell-attested100 to 1000 Species 3Era First AppearedWell-attestedCretaceous 4IdentificationDistinguishing AppearanceWell-attestedBody forms range from nearly square or triangular boxfishes and globose pufferfishes to laterally compressed filefishes and triggerfishes 1ClassificationLiving or ExtinctWell-attestedYes 2TetraodontiformesFilter Results6 entriesCommon GroupAllOther Bony Fish (6)Everyday GroupAllOther Bony Fish (6)HabitatAllFreshwater (1)Marine (6)Where It LivesAllAfrica (1)Albania (1)Algeria (1)Angola (1)Antigua and Barbuda (1)Argentina (1)Australia (2)Bahamas (1)Bahrain (1)Bangladesh (1)Barbados (1)Belgium (1)Belize (1)Benin (1)Brazil (2)Cabo Verde (2)Cameroon (1)Canada (1)Chile (2)China (2)Colombia (1)Costa Rica (1)Cote d'Ivoire (1)Cuba (2)Denmark (1)Dominica (1)Dominican Republic (1)Ecuador (1)Egypt (1)Equatorial Guinea (1)Federated States of Micronesia (1)France (1)Gabon (2)Gambia (1)Germany (1)Ghana (1)Greece (1)Grenada (1)Guatemala (1)Guinea (1)Guinea-Bissau (1)Haiti (1)Honduras (1)Iceland (1)India (1)Indonesia (1)Iran (1)Ireland (1)Israel (1)Italy (1)Jamaica (1)Japan (2)Jordan (1)Kenya (1)Madagascar (1)Malaysia (1)Maldives (1)Mauritius (1)Mexico (1)New Zealand (1)Papua New Guinea (1)Peru (1)Philippines (1)Portugal (1)Republic of the Congo (1)Saint Kitts and Nevis (1)Senegal (1)Seychelles (2)South Africa (3)South America (1)South Korea (1)Southeast Asia (1)Spain (2)The Pacific Ocean (1)United Arab Emirates (1)United Kingdom (1)United States (1)Vietnam (1)Conservation StatusAllLeast Concern (2)Not Evaluated (2)Vulnerable (1)DietAllCarnivore (1)Omnivore (3)System (Realm)AllFreshwater (1)Marine (6)Living or ExtinctAllYes (6)Relationship to PeopleAllHunted or Fished (4)Venomous or Dangerous to Humans (1)CITES AppendixAllNot Listed (6)NatureServe RankAllG5 Secure (1)EcosystemAllCoral Reef Systems (1)Galapagos (1)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 6Giant sunfishTetraodontiformesOcean SunfishTetraodontiformesParacanthostracion lindsayiTetraodontiformesPufferfishTetraodontiformesSharptail molaTetraodontiformesShortnose boxfishTetraodontiformesConnectionsParent Taxon OfGiant sunfish, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Giant sunfishOcean Sunfish, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Ocean SunfishParacanthostracion lindsayi, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Paracanthostracion lindsayiPufferfish, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: PufferfishSharptail mola, Species Well-attested Source Sharptail mola (Wikidata)tier 2Shortnose boxfish, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: Shortnose boxfishSpotted puffer, Species Well-attested Source FishBase: Guentheridia formosa (FishBase)Sources1. Tetraodontiformes - WikipediaIntroduction (rank)an order of ray-finned fishesIntroduction (name)is an order of ray-finned fishesIntroduction (member count)10 extant families and at around 430 species overallIntroduction (distribution)They are found throughout the worldDescription section (body plan)a variety of body shapes, all radical departures from the streamlined body plan typical of most fishesDescription section (body forms)range from nearly square or triangular (boxfishes), globose (pufferfishes) to laterally compressed (filefishes and triggerfishes)In Group: Perch-Like and Related Marine Fish Orders, LeadTetraodontiformes (), also known as the Plectognathi, is an order of ray-finned fishes which includes the pufferfishes and related taxa.View the Source2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)tier 2Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ211837, descriptionView the Source3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for TetraodontiformesCatalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount"speciesExtantCount": 441View the Source4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for TetraodontiformesPaleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)"taxon_name": "Tetraodontiformes" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 100.5 ... "early_interval": "Cenomanian"View the SourceWikidata: TetraodontiformesWikidata Q211837, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the SourceWikidata: PufferfishParent Taxon Of: Pufferfish, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q211837 (Tetraodontiformes)View the SourceWikidata: Ocean SunfishParent Taxon Of: Ocean Sunfish, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceSharptail mola (Wikidata)tier 2WikidataParent Taxon Of: Sharptail mola, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Giant sunfishParent Taxon Of: Giant sunfish, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Shortnose boxfishParent Taxon Of: Shortnose boxfish, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceWikidata: Paracanthostracion lindsayiParent Taxon Of: Paracanthostracion lindsayi, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the SourceFishBase: Guentheridia formosa (FishBase)FishBaseParent Taxon Of: Spotted puffer, ClassificationQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Spotted puffer, ClassificationTeleostei (teleosts) > Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and filefishes) > Tetraodontidae (Puffers) > TetraodontinaeView the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. 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