# Perciformes

Perciformes (/ˈpɜːrsɪˌfɔːrmiːz/), also called the Acanthopteri, is an order or superorder of ray-finned fish in the clade Percomorpha. Perciformes means "perch-like". Among the well-known members of this group are perches and darters (Percidae), and also sea basses and groupers (Serranidae).

## Taxonomy

Formerly, this group was thought to be even more diverse than it is thought to be now, containing about 41% of all bony fish (about 10,000 species) and about 160 families, which is the most of any order within the vertebrates. However, many of these other families have since been reclassified within their own orders within the clade Percomorpha, significantly reducing the size of the group. In contrast to this splitting, other groups formerly considered distinct, such as the Scorpaeniformes, are now classified in the Perciformes.

### Evolution

The earliest fossil perciform is the extinct serranid Paleoserranus from the Early Paleocene of Mexico, but potential records of "percoids" are known from the Maastrichtian, including Eoserranus, Indiaichthys, and Prolates, although their exact taxonomic identity remains uncertain.

## Characteristics

The dorsal and anal fins are divided into anterior spiny and posterior soft-rayed portions, which may be partially or completely separated. The pelvic fins usually have one spine and up to five soft rays, positioned unusually far forward under the chin or under the belly. Scales are usually ctenoid (rough to the touch), although sometimes they are cycloid (smooth to the touch) or otherwise modified.

## Classification

Classification of this group is controversial. As traditionally defined before the introduction of cladistics, the Perciformes are almost certainly paraphyletic. Other orders that should possibly be included as suborders are the Scorpaeniformes, Tetraodontiformes, and Pleuronectiformes. Of the presently recognized suborders, several may be paraphyletic, as well. These are grouped by suborder/superfamily, generally following the text Fishes of the World.
| Nelson 2016 | Betancur-Rodriguez et al. 2017 |
| Suborder Percoidei Superfamily Percoidea Centropomidae (Snooks) Latidae (Lates) Gerreidae (Mojarras) Centrogenyidae (False scorpionfishes) Perciliidae (Southern basses) Howellidae (Oceanic basslets) Acropomatidae (Lanternbellies) Epigonidae (Deepwater cardinalfishes) Polyprionidae (Wreckfishes) Lateolabracidae (Asian sea-basses) Mullidae (Goatfishes) Glaucosomatidae (Pearl perches) Pempheridae (Sweepers) Oplegnathidae (Knifejaws) Kuhliidae (Flagtails) Bathyclupeidae (Bathyclupeids) Toxotidae (Archerfishes) Arripidae (Australasian salmon (kahawai)) Dichistiidae (Galjoen fishes) Kyphosidae (Sea chubs) Terapontidae (grunters or tigerperches) Percichthyidae (temperate perches) Sinipercidae (Chinese perches) Enoplosidae (Oldwives) Pentacerotidae (Armourheads) Dinopercidae (Cavebasses) Banjosiidae (Banjofishes) Centrarchidae (Sunfishes) Serranidae (Sea basses and Groupers) Percidae (Perches) Lactariidae (False trevallies) Dinolestidae (Long-finned pikes) Scombropidae (Gnomefishes) Pomatomidae (Bluefishes) Bramidae (Pomfrets) Caristiidae (Manefishes) Possibly related to Acanthuriformes Monodactylidae (Moonfishes) Priacanthidae (Bigeyes (catalufas)) Families which may have a relationship to Acanthuroidei, Monodactylidae, and Priacanthidae Leiognathidae (Ponyfishes, slimys, or slipmouths) Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes) Pomacanthidae (Angelfishes) Malacanthidae (Tilefishes) Haemulidae (Grunts) Hapalogenyidae (Barbeled grunters) Lutjanidae (Snappers) Caesionidae (Fusiliers) Superfamily Cirrhitoidea Cirrhitidae (Hawkfishes) Chironemidae (Kelpfishes) Aplodactylidae (Marblefishes) Cheilodactylidae (Morwongs) Latridae (Trumpeters) Superfamily Cepoloidea Cepolidae (Bandfishes) Superfamily Siganoidea Scatophagidae (Scats) Siganidae (Rabbitfishes) Suborder Notothenioidei Bovichtidae (Temperate icefishes) Pseudaphritidae (Catadromous icefishes) Eleginopsidae (Patagonian blennies) Nototheniidae (Cod icefishes) Harpagiferidae (Spiny plunderfishes) Artedidraconidae (Barbeled plunderfishes) Bathydraconidae (Antarctic dragonfishes) Channichthyidae (Crocodile icefishes) | Order Perciformes (incl. Gasterosteiformes; Scorpaeniformes) Suborder Serranoidei Serranidae Suborder Percoidei Trachinidae Niphonidae Percidae Suborder Normanichthyoidei Normanichthyidae Suborder Notothenioidei Artedidraconidae Bathydraconidae Bovichtidae Channichthyidae Eleginopsidae Harpagiferidae Nototheniidae Percophidae Pseudaphritidae Suborder Platycephaloidei Hoplichthyidae Bembridae Parabembridae Platycephalidae Plectrogeniidae Suborder Bembropoidei Bembropidae Suborder Triglioidei Peristediidae Triglidae Suborder Scorpaenoidei Apistidae Aploactinidae Congiopodidae Eschmeyeridae Gnathanacanthidae Neosebastidae Pataecidae Perryenidae Synanceiidae Tetrarogidae Scorpaenidae (incl. Caracanthidae) Sebastidae Setarchidae Zanclorhynchidae Suborder Cottoidei Infraorder Anoplopomatales Anoplopomatidae Infraorder Zoarcales Anarhichadidae Bathymasteridae Cryptacanthodidae Eulophiidae Zoarcidae Pholidae Ptilichthyidae Zaproridae Stichaeidae Scytalinidae Infraorder Gasterosteales Hypoptychidae Aulorhynchidae Gasterosteidae Infraorder Zaniolepidales Zaniolepididae Infraorder Hexagrammales Hexagrammidae Infraorder Cottales Normanichthyidae Trichodontidae Cyclopteridae Liparidae Jordaniidae Rhamphocottidae (Ereuniidae) Scorpaenichthyidae Agonidae (incl. Hemitripteridae) Cottidae (incl. Abyssocottidae, Comephoridae; Cottocomephoridae) Psychrolutidae (incl. Bathylutichthyidae) |