Cetomimiformes 465298 216009240 2008-05-30T17:50:51Z DumZiBoT 6085301 robot Adding: [[es:Cetomimiformes]] {{Taxobox | name = Whalefishes | image = flabby whalefish.jpg | image_width = 260px | image_caption = [[Cetomimidae]], [[genus]] and [[species]] unknown | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordata]] | superclassis = [[Osteichthyes]] | classis = [[Actinopterygii]] | subclassis = [[Neopterygii]] | infraclassis = [[Teleostei]] | superordo = [[Acanthopterygii]] | ordo = '''Cetomimiformes''' <small>(disputed)</small> | subdivision_ranks = [[Family (biology)|Families]] | subdivision = [[Barbourisiidae]]<br/> [[Cetomimidae]]<br/> [[Megalomycteridae]]<br/><!-- Records of the Australian Museum 53(3): 407 --> [[Mirapinnidae]]<br /> [[Rondeletiidae]]<br/> }} The '''Cetomimiformes''' or '''whalefishes''' are an order of small, deep-sea [[ray-finned fish]]. Some authorities<ref>E.g. Nelson (2006)</ref> include the whalefishes as part of the order [[Stephanoberyciformes]], within the [[superfamily]] '''Cetomimoidea'''. Their sister order, the [[Beryciformes]], includes the [[flashlight fish]] and [[squirrelfish]]. Within this group are five families and approximately 18 genera (but see below). Thought to have a circumglobal distribution throughout the tropical and temperate [[latitude]]s, whalefishes have been recorded at depths in excess of 3,500 metres. ==Description== Named after their whale-shaped body (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''ketos'' meaning "whale" or "sea monster", ''mimos'' meaning "imitative" and the [[Latin]] ''forma'' meaning "form"), the Cetomimiformes have extremely large mouths and highly distensible stomachs. Their eyes are very small or vestigial; the [[lateral line]] (composed of huge, hollow tubes) is consequently very well developed to compensate for life in the pitch black depths. The dorsal and [[anal fins]] are set far back of the head; all fins lack spines. The [[swim bladder]] is also absent, except in the [[larva]]e and [[juvenile]]s which occur in the surface waters<ref name = paxtonetal2001>Paxton ''et al.'' (2001)</ref>. Whalefish coloration is typically red to orange, sometimes with a black body. Some species possess light-producing organs called [[photophore]]s; these are typical of deep-sea fishes. The largest known species reach a length of just 40 centimetres; most species are half this size. [[Sexual dimorphism]] is (apparently) exceptionally strong: males may only grow to 3.5 centimetres while females may be ten times as large. This is not uncommon among deep-sea fishes, with the males serving little use other than as suppliers of sperm: an even more extreme case are the [[parasitic]] males in deep-sea [[anglerfish]]. == Families == *[[Cetomimidae]] — flabby whalefishes *[[Rondeletiidae]] — redmouth whalefishes *[[Barbourisiidae]] — velvet whalefish ([[monotypic]]) *[[Megalomycteridae]] — [[largenose fish]]es *[[Mirapinnidae]] — [[hairyfish]] and [[tapetail]]s (or [[ribbonbearer]]s) The gibberfishes ([[Gibberichthyidae]]) on the other hand, usually placed in the [[Stephanoberyciformes]] ''sensu stricto'', appear to be close relatives of the [[Rondeletiidae]] and [[Barbourisiidae]], as has been occasionally proposed.<ref name = paxtonetal2001 />Paxton ''et al.'' (2001)</ref> ==Footnotes== {{Reflist}} ==References== * {{aut|Nelson, J.S.}} (2006): ''[[Fishes of the World]]'' (4th ed.). <small>ISBN 0-471-25031-7</small> * {{aut|Paxton, John R.; Johnson, G. David & Trnski, Thomas}} (2001): Larvae and juveniles of the deepsea "whalefishes" ''Barbourisia'' and ''Rondeletia'' (Stephanoberyciformes: Barbourisiidae, Rondeletiidae), with comments on family relationships. ''Records of the Australian Museum'' '''53'''(3): 407-425. [http://www.amonline.net.au/pdf/publications/1352_complete.pdf PDF fulltext] ==External links== * {{FishBase order | order = Cetomimiformes | month = January | year = 2006}} {{Actinopterygii}} [[Category:Cetomimiformes| ]] [[de:Walkopfartige]] [[es:Cetomimiformes]] [[fr:Cetomimiformes]] [[lt:Banginžuvės]] [[hu:Cetomimiformes]] [[nl:Walviskopvissen]] [[pl:Wielorybinkopodobne]] [[zh:奇鰭魚科]]