Fishes of the World, 4th Edition
"Of all the literature I use while preparing field guides for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nelson's Fishes of the World is, by far, the one I refer to most often. [This] book is a standard reference . . . I continue to use it extensively in the ichthyology courses I teach, particularly in laboratory sessions."
-Kent E. Carpenter Old Dominion University
"Fishes of the World is a unique and essential resource for anyone seriously interested in the diversity and evolution of fishes. The family accounts provide quick summaries of current knowledge on all groups of living fishes and many key fossil taxa. It is a required work for every student in my laboratory."
-William E. Bemis Kingsbury Director of Shoals Marine Laboratory, Cornell University
"Only classics are known by the single name of their author, and certainly [Nelson's book] has for four editions been such a book for all those who seek an accessible, up-to-date, readable reference on fish classification. Once again, Nelson presents a balanced view of the sometimes tumultuous, but ever-exciting, study of the phylogenetic relationships and classification of fishes. In doing so, Nelson makes an excellent case for organismal biology, highlighting the many and varied morphological characters we use to diagnose fish taxa and differentiate among the 515 families of living species."
-Lynne R. Parenti Curator of Fishes and Research Scientist, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
Fishes of the World, Fourth Edition is the updated edition of a true classic in the field. A unique presentation of a modern, cladistically based classification of all the major living and fossil fish groups, this indispensable reference helps scientists and others identify and classify specimens, make familial connections, understand the evolution of fishes, and springboard into further research.
The taxonomy of fishes presented includes the anatomical characteristics, distribution, common and scientific names, and phylogenetic relationships for all 515 families of living fishes. Packed with representative species drawings and information on phylogentic relationships, this informative Fourth Edition features:
* Both fossil and extant species
* More than 500 illustrations
* Fully vetted scientific and common names
* An extensive bibliography
Table of Contents
PREFACE.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
PHYLUM CHORDATA.
Subphylum Craniata.
Superclass Myxinomorphi to Osteostracomorphi.
Superclass Gnathostomata.
†Class Placodermi.
Class Chondrichthyes.
Subclass Holocephali.
Order Chimaeriformes.
Subclass Elasmobranchii.
Order Heterodontiformes.
Order Orectolobiformes.
Order Lamniformes.
Order Carcharhiniformes.
Order Hexanchiformes.
Order Echinorhiniformes.
Order Squaliformes.
Order Squatiniformes.
Order Pristiophoriformes.
Order Torpediniformes.
Order Pristiformes.
Order Rajiformes.
Order Myliobatiformes.
†Class Acanthodii.
Class Actinopterygii.
Subclass Cladistia.
Order Polypteriformes.
Subclass Chrondrostei.
Order Acipenseriformes.
Subclass Neopterygii.
Order Lepisosteiformes.
Order Amiiformes.
Division Teleostei.
Subdivision Osteoglossomorpha.
Order Hiodontiformes.
Order Osteoglossiformes.
Subdivision Elopomorpha.
Order Elopiformes.
Order Albuliformes.
Order Anguilliformes.
Order Saccopharyngiformes.
Subdivision Ostarioclupeomorpha (= Otocephala).
Superorder Clupeomorpha.
Order Clupeiformes.
Superorder Ostariophysi.
Order Gonorynchiformes.
Order Cypriniformes.
Order Characiformes.
Order Siluriformes.
Order Gymnotiformes.
Subdivision Euteleostei.
Superorder Protacanthopterygii.
Order Argentiniformes.
Order Osmeriformes.
Order Salmoniformes.
Order Esociformes.
Superorder Stenopterygii.
Order Stomiiformes.
Superorder Ateleopodomorpha.
Order Ateleopodiformes.
Superorder Cyclosquamata.
Order Aulopiformes.
Superorder Scopelomorpha.
Order Myctophiformes.
Superorder Lampriomorpha.
Order Lampriformes.
Superorder Polymixiomorpha.
Order Polymixiiformes.
Superorder Paracanthopterygii.
Order Percopsiformes.
Order Gadiformes.
Order Ophidiiformes.
Order Batrachoidiformes.
Order Lophiiformes.
Superorder Acanthopterygii.
Series Mugilomorpha.
Order Mugiliformes.
Series Atherinomorpha.
Order Atheriniformes.
Order Beloniformes.
Order Cyprinodontiformes.
Series Percomorpha.
Order Stephanoberyciformes.
Order Beryciformes.
Order Zeiformes.
Order Gasterosteiformes.
Order Synbranchiformes.
Order Scorpaeniformes.
Order Perciformes.
Order Pleuronectiformes.
Order Tetraodontiformes.
Class Sarcopterygii.
Subclass Coelacanthimorpha.
Order Coelacanthiformes.
Subclass Dipnotetrapodomorpha.
Order Ceratodontiformes.
Unranked Tetrapodomorpha.
Infraclass Tetrapoda.
APPENDIX.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
INDEX.
