Cyprinidontiformes
| Cyprinodontiformes Temporal range: Oligocene–recent |
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Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus heteroclitus) Female (top right) and two males |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Superorder: | Acanthopterygii |
| Order: |
Cyprinodontiformes L. S. Berg, 1940 |
| Suborders | |
| Synonyms | |
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Microcyprini Regan, 1909 |
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Aplocheiloidei
Cyprinodontoidei
Microcyprini Regan, 1909
Cyprinodontiformes /ˌsaɪprᵻnoʊˌdɒntᵻˈfɔːrmiːz/ is an order of ray-finned fish, comprising mostly small, freshwater fish. Many popular aquarium fish, such as killifish and live-bearers, are included. They are closely related to the Atheriniformes and are occasionally included with them. A colloquial term for the order as a whole is toothcarps, though they are not actually close relatives of the true carps – the latter belong to the superorder Ostariophysi, while the toothcarps are Acanthopterygii.
The families of Cyprinodontiformes can be divided into three groups: viviparous and ovoviviparous (all species give live birth), and oviparous (all species egg-laying). The live-bearing groups differ in whether the young are carried to term within (ovoviviparous) or without (viviparous) an enclosing eggshell. Phylogenetically however, one of the two suborders – the Aplocheiloidei – contains oviparous species exclusively, as do two of the four superfamilies of the other suborder (the Cyprinodontoidea and Valencioidea of the Cyprinodontoidei). Vivipary and ovovivipary have evolved independently from oviparous ancestors, the latter possibly twice.
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