Myctophiformes

noun

Head and body compressed; eye lateral (dorsolateral in the myctophid Hierops); mouth usually large and terminal; adipose fin present; usually 8 pelvic fin rays; usually 7-11 branchiostegal rays. All are deep-sea pelagic and benthopelagic fishes.

The Order Myctophiformes belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes). It contains 2 Families. The Order is most closely related to the Order Lampriformes; these Orders shared a common ancestor 70 million years ago. Members of this Order have been dated back to the Cretaceous period. Etymology of this Order name: Greek, mykter, -eros = nose + Greek, ophis = serpent + Latin, forma = shape. 1601.