Stomiiformes

Stomiiformes Temporal range: Cenomanian–present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Astronesthes similus (Phosichthyoidei: Stomiidae)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Superorder:	Osmeromorpha
Order:	Stomiiformes Regan, 1909
Type species
Stomias boa boa (A. Risso, 1810)
Suborders
Stomioidei Phosichthyoidei
Synonyms
Gonostomatiformes

Stomiiformes /ˈstɒmi.ɪfɔːrmiːz/ is an order of deep-sea ray-finned fishes of very diverse morphology. It includes, for example, dragonfishes, lightfishes (Gonostomatidae and Phosichthyidae), loosejaws, marine hatchetfishes and viperfishes. The order contains 4 families (5 according to some authors) with more than 50 genera and at least 410 species. As usual for deep-sea fishes, there are few common names for species of the order, but the Stomiiformes as a whole are often called dragonfishes and allies or simply stomiiforms.^[1]

The scientific name means "Stomias-shaped", from Stomias (the type genus) + the standard fish order suffix "-formes". It ultimately derives from Ancient Greek stóma (στόμᾶ, "mouth") + Latin forma ("external form"), the former in reference to the huge mouth opening of these fishes.^[2]

The earliest stomiiform is Paravinciguerria from the Cenomanian of Morocco and Italy.^[3]