Acanthopterygii

Teleosts may have a mobile premaxilla, but Acanthopterygians have a REALLY mobile premaxilla! This allows for even greater diversity than before!


mullet

Mugilomorpha: Mullets

This series contains one order (Mugiliformes) with one family (Mugilidae). They have widely separated dorsal fins and lack a lateral line. They have a small, triangular mouth, which makes them look very cute (I think).


Atherinomorpha

This overarching group lacks a ball and socket joint between the palatine and maxilla, allowing the fishes to lock their jaws in the protruded position. You can think of this as the ABC group, since it includes Atheriniformes, Beloniformes, and Cypriniformes!


Atheriniformes: Silversides

This family usually has silvery sides (duh). They have flexible spines in the dorsal fin, and one in the anal fin. Let's go to las familias, shall we?


newworld

By CHUCAO (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Atherinopsidae: New World Silversides

These fishes have widely spaced dorsal fins and highly placed pectoral fins, more dorsal than ventral. Sometimes they have a transluscent body.


surf

Notocheiridae: Surf Sardines

This skinny fishies have an expanded anterior region, making it look as if they're puffing out their chest to impress the fish ladies. Their pectoral fins are super close to the dorsal fins, almost like dual dorsal fins in progress.


rainbow

By Der Regenbogenfisch (Diskussion) (Self-photographed) [CC BY-SA 3.0 de], via Wikimedia Commons

Melanotaeniidae: Rainbowfishes, Blue Eyes

This family can be identified by a membrane that attaches the innermost pelvic ray to the abdomen, although this can be easily broken during handling. Some species have a largish dorsal spine.


Atherionidae: Pricklenose Silversides

This family contains one genus, Atherion. Their mouth/head is covered with rough denticles, which I guess makes them great at parties with the velcro dartboards.


priapum

National Geographic, New Genitalia-Headed Fish Is Evolutionary Mystery

Phallostethidae: Tusked Silversides, Priapiumfishes

This family contains two subfamilies, one of which contains only Dentatherina merceri, the Tusked Silverside. But that's not what makes this family weird as hell. "Priapum" is greek for "penis," so these fishes are "penis-fish." They get their name because the males have an asymmetrical organ under their throat (note: external asymmetry is highly unusual in the animal kingdom). This organ contains the copulatory organs, which are used to internally fertilize the female (also highly unusual for a fish). Because of the organ's location, the cloacal opening is located on the throat, on the opposite side as the asymmetrical priapum. Also, I personally think they look like penises, which just makes it all the more hilarious.


oldworld

By Etrusko25 (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Atherinidae: Old World Silversides

Honestly, these are pretty non-descript silver fishes. They are long, skinny, with silvery sides. The dorsal fins are separated with flexible spines in the first one. That's all I've got.


Beloniformes: Needlefishes

Because they have needly jaws, the jaws are non-protrusible. There's also some loss of gill arch cartilage, but I highly doubt you'll be checking for that if you see one. They tend to live near the surface of the water.


rice

By Seotaro (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Adrianichthyidae: Rice Fishes

They get their name from their habit of making their habitat in rice paddies. The duckbilled buntingi, Andrianichthys kruyti, has its jaws permanently fixated into a protruded position, possibly for constant suction. Another species, Oryzias latipes, was the first vertebrate to reproduce in space.


flying

By Izuzuki (http://www.izuzuki.com/) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Exocoetidae: Flyingfishes

How does on escape from an aquatic predator? Why, take to the skies! This family of fishes haas enlarged pectoral fins, and some have enlarged pelvic fins. The lower lobe of the caudal fin is usually larger than the upper lobe. When threatened, they can propel themselves out of the water and glide a short distance, hopefully to safety. They are of interest for studying aerodynamics, because the different body shapes exhibit tradeoffs in speed and hangtime.


halfbeak

By KevinHadley (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Hemiramphidae: Halfbeaks

This fishes look like upside-down swordfish! The half of the beak that is elongated is the lower jaw, giving these fishes one hell of an underbite. Interestingly, They also lack a stomach, being one of a select few families (I'm unsure of the other ones). it was originally thought that this family was modified from needlefishes, but all juveniles in this order go through a "halfbeak" stage, indicating that the elongated lower jaw developed first, with the full beak of Belonidae being a further modification. This family also includes the genus Zenarchopterus, which is viviparous (gives birth to live young).


needle

By Hannes Grobe/AWI (Own work) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Belonidae: Needlefishes

These fishes are scary stuff. They have the indicators of ambush predators, with long jaws full of sharp teeth, plus posteriorly placed dorsal/anal fins. They look for flashes from the prey fish, then accelerate and feed. This has led to some incidents, with the fish shooting out of the water with an unsuspecting person in the path. There have been fatalities caused by people being speared through the heart or brain. As I said, scary stuff. They also have green bones.


saury

By beemartins from Matsushima, Miyagi (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Scomberesocidae: Sauries

This family is similar to Belonidae, though they have more slender beaks, along with small finlets between the dorsal/anal fins and the caudal fin. The beak is not always elongated, and may be short in some species.


Cyprinodontiformes: Killifishes

These smallish fishes have rounded caudal fins. They scare me, mostly because I always thought they were called "killer-fishes."


asian

By Marrabbio2 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Aplocheilidae: Asian Rivulines

Females have a posteriorly set dorsal fin with a black blotch. They lay eggs in the mud that survive the dry seasons, and may not hatch if conditions are not right.


african

By Andrew Bogott (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Nothobranchiidae: African Rivulines

These fishes are long-lived, making it to 80 years of age! Just like the Apocheilids, they too bury their eggs in mud, which can cause issues when the water is sprayed with pesticides. These species exhibit red stripes on the postorbital regions of males.


newworld

By Cardet co6cs (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Rivulidae: New World Rivulines

There's not much to say about this family as a whole. However, one species, Kryptolebias marmoratus, is able to fertilize itself, being the only vertebrate with self-fertilization abilities.


middle

By opencage (http://opencage.info/pics/large_16187.asp) [CC BY 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons

Profundulidae: Middle American Killifishes

There is only one genus, Profundulus. They're found in Central America. There are some differentiating gill raker features, but nothing that you're going to be tested on.


good

By Cedricguppy - Loury Cédric (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Goodeidae: Goodeids

These fishes are often called splitfins, because the anterior rays of the anal fin are separate from the rest.


mummichog

NOAA, public domain

Fundulidae: Topminnows

These fishes are notable for their twisted maxilla bones. If that's all that it takes to be in a separate family, then I don't even know. They do have one species, Fundulus heteroclitus, which is known as the Mummichog. If that isn't a ridiculous name (with a slightly sexual scientific name) then I still don't even know.


valen

By Joanbanjo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Valenciidae: Valencia Toothcarps

There is one genus, Valencia, with two to three recognized species. They haven't done much exciting things yet, but there's still plenty of time.


pup

By Etrusko25 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

Cyprinodontidae: Pupfishes

Found in more extreme conditions than the average fish, they are found in many fresh and brackish habitats. The common name comes from their behavior of acting similar to puppies...if puppies were fish.


four

By James St. John (Anableps anableps (largescale four-eyed fish) 2) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Anablepidae: Four-Eyed Fishes

So, super cool fish here. Based on physics, air and water have different refractions, which means that the image seen in air might be blurry and unfocused underwater. So if a fish wanted to see in both air and water, it would need a good method to do so. The Anablepids have this ability, with the pupil split horizontally. This allows the fish to focus both above and below water.


sword

By Bastet78 (own work (my aquarium)) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Poeciliidae: Livebearers

These fishes, also known as swordtails, are known for being viviparous (giving birth to live young).


Percomorpha

This extremely diverse group of fishes is at the top of the tree, saving "the best for last." They include the group Smegmamorpha, which is a great name (DO NOT look up smegma). This group includes a ton of families. Go ahead, click the link!