Synbranchiformes

Oriental Kiemenschlitzaal ( Monopterus albus)

The Kiemenschlitzaalartigen ( Synbranchiformes ) consist of four families and about 115 species in 13 genera. They live with the exception of three species of brackish water dwellers in the tropics and subtropics of Africa, Asia, the Indo- Australian Archipelago, Mexico and Central and South America, in freshwaters.

Features

The fish are 3.1 to 150 inches long. The body is eel-like elongated. The gill opening is reduced to a small transverse slit under the head or throat. Respiration is achieved primarily by the pharynx and intestine. The premaxilla ( Zwischenkieferbein ) is not vorstreckbar ( protaktil ) and has no ascending projection. In the skull of the external pterygoid (wing bone) is elongated, the missing or reduced medium.

Inside systematics

  • Subordination Synbranchoidei Family Kiemenschlitzaale ( Synbranchidae )
  • Family Chaudhuriidae
  • Family spiny eels ( Mastacembelidae )

In addition to these three traditional to the Kiemenschlitzaalartigen counted families used in modern classification systems must be added the family of Indostomidae ( subordination Indostomoidei ). The close relationship of the random ling similar Indostomidae with the other, outwardly different groups, based on molecular studies and is supported not by morphological characteristics.

The family relationships of four families cladogram shows the following:

Order Anabantiformes ( labyrinth fish and relatives )

Spiny eels ( Mastacembelidae )

Chaudhuriidae

Kiemenschlitzaale ( Synbranchidae )

Indostomidae

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