Atheriniformes
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The Atheriniformes, also known as the silversides, are an order of ray-finned fishes that includes the Old & New World silversides, the rainbowfishes, and several less-familiar families, including the unusual Phallostethidae. The order includes at least 354 species. They are found worldwide in tropical and temperate marine and freshwater environments.<ref name=EoF/>
Description
Atheriniformes are generally elongated and silvery in colour, although exceptions do exist. They are typically small fish, with the largest being the Argentinian silverside, with a head-body length of Template:Convert,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but possibly up to 82 cm (32 in).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The smallest species, such as the Bangkok minnow, reach only Template:Convert in adult length.<ref name=EoF>Template:Cite book</ref>
Members of the order usually have two dorsal fins, the first with flexible spines, and an anal fin with one spine at the front. The lateral line is typically weak or absent.<ref name="Nelson"/> Atheriniform larvae share several characteristics; the gut is unusually short, a single row of melanophores occurs along the back, and the fin rays do not become evident until some time after hatching.<ref name="Nelson"/> They scatter their eggs widely, with most species attaching them to aquatic plants.<ref name=EoF/>
Taxonomy
Classification of the Atheriniformes is uncertain, with the best evidence for monophyly in the larval characteristics mentioned below.<ref name="Nelson"/> Their closest relatives are thought to be the Cyprinodontiformes.<ref name=EoF/>
Nelson 2016 recognizes the infraseries Atherinomorpha, part of the sub series Ovalentaria which includes the orders Atheriniformes, Beloniformes, and Cyprinodontiformes, citing the larval characteristics and supporting molecular studies of these taxa as support for monophyly of this grouping. The sister taxon to the Atherinomorpha appears to be the Mugiliformes.<ref name = Nelson5>Template:Cite book</ref>
Following Nelson (2006), the family Melanotaeniidae includes the subfamilies Bedotiinae, Melanotaeniinae, Pseudomugilinae, and Telmatherininae, to demonstrate their monophyly.<ref name="Nelson">Template:Cite book</ref> However, in a 2004 study, a different classification scheme classifies the families Bedotiidae, Melanotaeniidae, and Pseudomugilidae (also include Telmatherinine genera) in a suborder Melanotaenioidei.<ref name="Sparks2004">Template:Cite journal</ref> Thus, the number of families in Atheriniformes varies from author to author.
Based on Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes (2025):<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Order Atheriniformes
- Family Atherinidae (Old World silversides)
- Family Bedotiidae (Malagasy rainbowfishes)
- Family Melanotaeniidae (rainbowfishes)
- Family Pseudomugilidae (blue eyes)
- Family Telmatherinidae (sailfin silversides)
- Family Notocheiridae (surf silversides)
- Family Isonidae (surf sardines)
- Family Atherionidae (pricklenose silversides)
- Family Dentatherinidae (tusked silversides)
- Family Phallostethidae (priapumfishes)
- Family Atherinopsidae (New World silversides)
In addition, two extinct families (Mesogasteridae, containing Latellagnathus & Mesogaster, and Rhamphognathidae, containing only Rhamphognathus) are known from the Early Eocene of Monte Bolca, Italy.<ref name=":02">Template:Cite journal</ref> Uniquely, these large-sized atheriniforms appear to have adapted for a macropredatory lifestyle, potentially due to open ecological niches at the time.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Timeline of genera
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bar:era from: -65.5 till: -23.03 color:paleogene text:Paleogene from: -23.03 till: -2.588 color:neogene text:Neogene from: -2.588 till: 0 color:quaternary text:Q.
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References
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