The Cyprinodontiformes is an order of ray-finned fish, and comprising mostly small, fresh-water fish. They are closely related to the Atheriniformes and are occasionally included with them. Many popular aquarium fish, such as killifish and live-bearers, belong here. A colloquial term for the order as a whole is toothcarps, though they are not actually close relatives of the true carps.
Members of this order are notable for inhabiting harsh environments, such as saline or very warm waters, water of poor quality, or isolated situations where no other types of fish occur. They are typically omnivores, and often live near the surface, where the oxygen-rich water compensates for environmental disadvantages.
The families of Cyprinodontiformes can be divided into three groups: viviparous and ovoviviparous (all species give live birth), and oviparous (all species egg-laying). The live-bearing groups differ in whether the young are carried to term within (ovoviviparous) or without (viviparous) an enclosing eggshell. Phylogenetically however, one of the two suborders – the Aplocheiloidei – contains oviparous species exclusively, as do two of the four superfamilies of the other suborder (the Cyprinodontoidea and Valencioidea of the Cyprinodontoidei). Vivipary and ovovivipary have evolved independently from oviparous ancestors, the latter possibly twice.
Systematics
ORDER CYPRNODONTIFORMES
References
"Cyprinodontiformes". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. August 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
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