Elopiformes

Indo-Pacific tarpon ( Megalops cyprinoides )

The Tarpunartigen ( Elopiformes ) are a nine kinds comprehensive order of bony fish. They are related to the eel-like and have with them the same larval form, the Leptocephaluslarve which is only small at the Tarpunartigen and is more than five inches long.

Features

Her body is slender, spindle-shaped, flattened oval or laterally in cross section. The scales are cycloid. The eyes are large and are protected by fat eyelids. The mouth is large and terminal or upper constant, the gill openings wide. The upper jaw edge is formed by the premaxilla and the dentate maxilla. The lower jaw extends to behind the eye. The lateral line does not reach the small Vorkiemendeckel. The pelvic fins are abdominal constantly. The caudal fin is deeply forked. She has seven Hypuralia. Postcleithra and Mesocoracoid ( bones in the shoulder girdle ) are available. The Gulare, a bony throat plate is well developed. The number of Branchiostegalstrahlen is 23 to 35 The leptocephali of Tarpunartigen are small, reaching a maximum length of 5 cm, and have a well-developed, forked caudal fin and a dorsal fin located at the rear. The number of their muscle sections (segments) in the trunk muscles is 53 to 86

Families

• † Anaethalionidae
• Mrs. Fish ( Elopidae ), 7 species
• Tarpon ( Megalopidae ), 2 species

Phylogeny

Tarpunartige are known an ancient group of fish and since the Upper Jurassic of Europe, Asia and Africa.