The Atheriniformes, also known as the silversides, are an order of ray-finned fishes that includes the Old and New World silversides, the rainbowfishes, and several less-familiar families, including the unusual Phallostethidae. The order includes at least 354 species. They are found worldwide in tropical and temperate marine and freshwater environments. but possibly up to 82 cm (32 in). The smallest species, such as the Bangkok minnow, reach only in adult length.
Members of the order usually have two dorsal fins, the first with flexible spines, and an anal fin with one spine at the front. The lateral line is typically weak or absent.
Following Nelson (2006), the family Melanotaeniidae includes the subfamilies Bedotiinae, Melanotaeniinae, Pseudomugilinae, and Telmatherininae, to demonstrate their monophyly. However, in a 2004 study, a different classification scheme classifies the families Bedotiidae, Melanotaeniidae, and Pseudomugilidae (also include Telmatherinine genera) in a suborder Melanotaenioidei. Thus, the number of families in Atheriniformes varies from author to author.
Based on Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes (2025):
- Order Atheriniformes
- Family Atherinidae (Old World silversides)
- Family Bedotiidae (Malagasy rainbowfishes)
- Family Melanotaeniidae (rainbowfishes)
- Family Pseudomugilidae (blue eyes)
- Family Telmatherinidae (sailfin silversides)
- Family Notocheiridae (surf silversides)
- Family Isonidae (surf sardines)
- Family Atherionidae (pricklenose silversides)
- Family Dentatherinidae (tusked silversides)
- Family Phallostethidae (priapumfishes)
- Family Atherinopsidae (New World silversides)
thumb|[[Rhamphognathus, a unique predatory silverside from the Eocene]]
In addition, two extinct families (Mesogasteridae, containing Latellagnathus and Mesogaster, and Rhamphognathidae, containing only Rhamphognathus) are known from the Early Eocene of Monte Bolca, Italy. Uniquely, these large-sized atheriniforms appear to have adapted for a macropredatory lifestyle, potentially due to open ecological niches at the time.
Timeline of genera
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from: -65.5 till: -55.8 color:paleocene text:Paleocene
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