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Acanthuriformes

Acanthuriformes is a large, diverse order of mostly marine ray-finned fishes, part of the Percomorpha clade. In the past, members of this clade were placed in the suborders Acanthuroidea and Percoidea of the order Perciformes, but this treatment is now considered paraphyletic.

This order contains many of the iconic tropical reef fish groups, such as surgeonfish, marine angelfish, butterflyfish, rabbitfish, grunts, and snappers. It also contains widespread, economically important food and sport fishes, such as drums, temperate basses, and porgies. The only pelagic member of the group is the louvar.

Etymology

The name comes from Ancient Greek (ákantha), meaning "spine", (ourá), and Latin ', meaning "form".

Classification

The following classification is based on Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes (2025):

In the past, the rovers and drums were included within the suborder Sciaenoidei within the Acanthuriformes. However, this placement causes the group to be paraphyletic. Some authors have resolved this by placing the two families included in that suborder as incertae sedis in the Eupercaria, but others have resolved this by placing even more families within the order, the latter of which is followed by the Catalog of Fishes.

Some authors also lump the Lophiiformes and Tetraodontiformes within this group as the suborders Lophioidei and Tetraodontoidei, because Acanthuriformes is otherwise paraphyletic. However, they are presently retained as distinct orders by taxonomic authorities.

Fossil taxa

The following extinct groups are also known:

  • Family †Acanthonemidae <small>Bannikov, 1991</small>
  • Family †Kushlukiidae <small>Daniltshenko</small><small>, 1968</small>
  • Family †Massalongiidae <small>Tyler & Bannikov, 2005</small>
  • Family †Sorbinipercidae <small>Tyler</small><small>, 1998</small>
  • Family †Zorzinichthyidae <small>Tyler & Bannikov</small><small>, 2002</small>

Phylogeny

Cladogram from Near & Thacker, 2024:

References