Cetomimiformes
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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| ]]
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