Cyprinodontiformes

Cyprinodontiformes is an order of fishes. These freshwater fish are sometimes called toothcarps, though they are not related to the Cypriniformes. While cyprinids are Ostariophysi, toothcarps are Ovalentaria or Acanthopterygii. 

 Description 
Toothcarps are usually small fish. The channels and pores of the lateral line are mainly in the head, while in the body the lateral line is a series of pointed scales.

Many members of the family Cyprinodontidae (the pupfishes) eat plant material as well and some have adapted to a diet very high in algae to the point where one, the American Flag Fish, is a renowned algae eater in the aquarium, in spite of belonging to an order of fishes that do not generally consume any plant material.

In addition, killifish derive some of the carotenoids and other chemicals required to make their body pigments from pollen grains on the surface of and in the gut of insects they eat from the surface of the water; this can be simulated in culture by the use of special color enhancing foods that contain these compounds.

The largest species is the Pacific four-eyed fish (Anableps dowei), which measures 34 cm (13 in) in length, while the smallest one, the least killifish (Heterandria formosa), is just 8 mm (0.31 in) long as an adult.

 Distribution 
They are found in freshwater or brackish environments in America, Africa and Asia. The members of this order are notable for their ability to tolerate environment such as saltwater. They usually live near the surface, taking advantage of areas with oxygen-rich water.

 Systematics 

 Classification 
The families in the following classification are divided according to their modes of reproduction into three main groups:

 Viviparous and ovoviviparous, with species that give birth to live offspring.
 Oviparous, with species that reproduce through eggs.

Classification based on Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes (2025):
Cyprinodontiformes

 Suborder Aplocheiloidei (all oviparous)
 Family Aplocheilidae - Asian killifishes
 Family Nothobranchiidae - African killifishes
 Family †Kenyaichthyidae (Miocene of Kenya)
 Family Rivulidae - New World killifishes
 Suborder Cyprinodontoidei
 Family Pantanodontidae - spine killifishes (oviparous)
 Family Fundulidae - topminnows (oviparous)
 Family Cyprinodontidae - pupfishes (oviparous)
 Family Profundulidae - Middle American killifishes (oviparous)
 Family Goodeidae - splitfins or goodeids (largely viviparous)
 Family Fluviphylacidae - American lampeyes (oviparous)
 Family Anablepidae - four-eyed fish (largely ovoviviparous)
 Family Poeciliidae - livebearers (viviparous)
 Family Aphaniidae - Oriental killifishes (oviparous)
 Family Valenciidae - Valencia toothcarps (oviparous)
 Family Procatopodidae - African lampeyes (oviparous)
Additionally, the Anablepidae and Poeciliidae can be grouped in a superfamily called the Poecilioidea:

 Anablepidae Bonaparte, 1831
 Poeciliidae Bonaparte, 1831


 Phylogeny 

 Related pages 

 Mummichog
 Fundulus
 Guppy
 Mosquitofish
 Platy (fish)
 Kenyaichthys – an extinct genus of toothcarp

 References 


 Other websites