Osteoglossiformes |
![Osteoglossum bicirrhosum](./modules/Fish-MM/images/200px-Osteoglossum_bicirrhosum.jpg)
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
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Scientific classification |
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Families |
Gymnarchidae
Heterotididae
Mormyridae (elephantfishes)
Notopteridae (featherfin knives)
Ostariostomidae (extinct)
Osteoglossidae (arowana)
Pantodontidae (butterflyfishes)
Singidididae (extinct) |
Osteoglossiformes (Lat. "bony tongues") is a
relatively primitive
order of
ray-finned fish that contains two sub-orders the
Osteoglossoidei and the Notopteroidei
Members of the order are notable for having toothed or
bony tongues, and for having the forward part of the
gastrointestinal tract pass to the left of the oesophagus
and stomach (for all other fish it passes to the right).
One species, the
arapaima (Arapaima gigas) is the largest freshwater fish known, with specimens reported up to 4.5
m in length.
The mooneyes (Hiodontidae)
are often classified here, but may also be placed in a
separate order
Hiodontiformes.
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