The Gonorynchiformes are an order of ray-finned fish that includes the important food source, the milkfish, and a number of lesser-known types, both marine and freshwater.
The milkfish is a widespread species of ray-finned fish found throughout the Indo-Pacific. It is the sole living species in the family Chanidae, and the only living member of the genus Chanos. The repeating scientific name (tautonym) is from Greek khanos. They are grouped in the order Gonorhynchiformes and are most closely related to the Ostariophysi—freshwater fishes such as carps, catfish, and loaches.
Chanidae is a family of fishes which has a number of fossil genera and one monotypic extant genus which contains the milkfish.
Gonorynchus is a genus of long thin gonorynchiform ray-finned fish, commonly called beaked salmon or beaked sandfish. They live on sandy bottoms near shorelines of the temperate & subtropical Southern Hemisphere and East Asia. There are five known extant species which are placed in this genus. All have a distinctive angular snout that the fish use to dig themselves into the sand. A swim bladder is absent.
Gonorynchidae is a family of ray-finned fish in the order Gonorynchiformes, which has a number of fossil taxa and one extant genus, Gonorynchus, the beaked salmons. They are an ancient group, with fossils known from as far back as the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous.
Coccodus is an extinct genus of marine pycnodontid fish that lived during the Late Cretaceous. The various species had a pair of massive, curved spines emanating from the lower sides of the head, and one curved spine on the top of its head. Unlike most pycnodontids, Coccodus species had a comparatively long body, giving the living animals a superficial resemblance to a scaly chimaera.
Charitopsis is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish that lived during the lower Cenomanian. It was a relative of modern beaked salmons. It contains a single species, C. spinosus from the Sannine Formation of Lebanon. It is possibly related to the sympatric gonorynchid Charitosomus, although some anatomical traits are more similar to the Cenozoic gonorynchids.
Dastilbe is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine & freshwater ray-finned fish from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil. It was a relative of modern milkfish.
Chanopsis is an extinct genus of prehistoric freshwater bonytongue relative that lived from the late Aptian to the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous epoch. It contains a single species, C. lombardi from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Ctenocephalichthys is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish, generally considered a holocentriform, that lived during the Late Cretaceous. It is known from Cenomanian to the Santonian of Lebanon.
Coelogaster is an extinct genus of marine ray-finned fish that lived during the early Eocene. It contains a single species, C. leptostea, known from the famous Monte Bolca site of Italy.
Aethalionopsis is an extinct genus of prehistoric freshwater bony fish from the Early Cretaceous of western Europe. Formerly classified as a species of the elopiform Anaethalion, it is now known to be a relative of the modern milkfish (Chanos) in order Gonorhynchiformes. It was previously placed as a basal member of the suborder Chanoidei, but is now more often placed as a basal member of the subfamily Chaninae of the family Chanidae, placing it closer to the extant Chanos.
Anaethalion is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine and freshwater ray-finned fish related to modern tarpons and ladyfish. It is known from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous of Europe and northeasterrn Asia, roughly encompassing the Tethys Ocean.
Brannerion is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine bonefish. Fossils of the genus were found in the Romualdo Formation of the Santana Group, Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil. It is considered a basal member of the Albuliformes.
Brychaetus is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine bonytongue fish known from the Late Cretaceous to the late Eocene of Europe, North America, and northern Africa.
Charitosomus is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish from the Late Cretaceous, related to modern beaked salmons. They were nektonic carnivores in life.
Ceramurus is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish from the Late Jurassic. It contains a single species, C. macrocephalus from the Purbeck Group of England.
Casieroides is an extinct genus of prehistoric freshwater ray-finned fish. It contains a single species, C. yamangaensis from the Early Cretaceous Loia Formation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Cylindracanthus is an extinct, enigmatic genus of marine ray-finned fish with fossils known throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Africa from the Late Cretaceous to the late Eocene, with potential Oligocene records and a possible Miocene record also known. It is exclusively known from its distinctive partial remains, which are long cylindrical bony spines that are usually considered rostrum fragments, as well as some associated teeth. These spines are abundant & widespread throughout this timespan, and are useful indicators of a nearshore marine environment, but the taxonomic identity of the fish is still highly uncertain and debated.
Pycnodontidae is an extinct family of ray-finned fishes, ranging from the Jurassic period until the Eocene. It was the largest and most derived family of the successful Mesozoic fish order Pycnodontiformes, and one of only two families to survive into the Cenozoic.
