Zeiformes: Dories

No, this isn't the character from Finding Nemo. These fishes have a compressed, deep body plan and have highly distensible jaws. There are a few other distinguishing features but most are osteological so we won't mention them here.


Cyttoidei: Lookdown Dories

There is one family, Cyttidae, with one genus, Cyttus, with three species. This family is distinguished by its lack of large "buckler" scales near the dorsal and anal fins.


Zeioidei

Yeah...this group includes all the dories except the cyttids. So let's keep it moving.


oreo

By NOAA Photo Library (expl1205) [CC BY 2.0 or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Oreosomatidae: Oreos

What is the ocean's favorite cookie? OREOS! These fishes have an upturned, protractile mouth, along with large eyes and prominent fin spines.


smooth

By Noble, Brandi, Provided fish pictures from the NOAA photo library. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Parazenidae: Smooth Dories

This group is pretty nondescript, even among the relatively nondescript dories. They have a few spines in every fin, except the pelvics.


armor

By SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC. (NOAA Photo Library: fish4513) [CC BY 2.0 or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Zeniontidae: Armoreye Dories

Most fish scales are rounded...but these few fishes have scales that are rounded...to squarish! Astounding!


tinsel

By NOAA's Fisheries Collection [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Grammicolepididae: Tinselfishes

I'm not completely sure how these fishes earned their name. They do have the fish version of a mohawk, with the dorsal fin spines elevated as spikes.


zeus

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

Zeidae: Dories

Similar to the cyttids, this family also contains fishes that have large buckler scales. There is usually a concave curve to the head, with a hump usually located right behind the eyes.