Perciformes

Perciformes Temporal range: 100.5–0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Late Cretaceous to Recent
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Superorder:	Acanthopterygii
Order:	Perciformes Bleeker, 1859
Type species
Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758

Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, are the largest order of vertebrates, containing about 41% of all bony fish. Perciformes means "perch-like". They belong to the class of ray-finned fish, and comprise over 10,000 species found in almost all aquatic ecosystems.

The order contains about 160 families, which is the most of any order within the vertebrates. It is also the most variably sized order of vertebrates, ranging from the 7-mm (1/4-in) Schindleria brevipinguis to the marlin in the Makaira genus. They first appeared and diversified in the Late Cretaceous.

Among the well-known members of this group are cichlids, California sheephead, bluegill, damselfish, snappers, bass, and perch.

The dorsal and anal fins are divided into anterior spiny and posterior soft-rayed portions, which may be partially or completely separated. The pelvic fins usually have one spine and up to five soft rays, positioned unusually far forward under the chin or under the belly. Scales are usually ctenoid, although sometimes they are cycloid or otherwise modified.