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Stomiiformes is an order of deep-sea ray-finned fishes of very diverse morphology. It includes for example dragonfishes, lightfishes, loosejaws, marine hatchetfishes and viperfishes. The order contains 4 families (5 according to some authors) with more than 50 genera and at least 410 species. As usual for deep-sea fishes, there are few common names for species of the order, but the Stomiiformes as a whole are often called dragonfishes and allies or simply stomiiforms.〔Nelson (2006): pp.207-208〕 The scientific name means "''Stomias''-shaped", from ''Stomias'' (the type genus) + the standard fish order suffix "-formes". It ultimately derives from Ancient Greek ''stóma'' (στόμᾶ, "mouth") + Latin ''forma'' ("external form"), the former in reference to the huge mouth opening of these fishes.〔Woodhouse (1910), Glare (1968-1982), FishBase (2005)〕 ==Description and ecology== Members of this order are mostly pelagic fishes living in deep oceanic waters. Their distribution around the world's oceans is very wide, ranging from subtropical and temperate waters up to subarctic or even Antarctic ones. 〔FishBase (2005), Nelson (2006): p.207〕 The smallest species of this order is the bristlemouth ''Cyclothone pygmaeae''. Native to the Mediterranean Sea, it reaches just 1.5 cm (0.6 in) as an adult. The largest species is the barbeled dragonfish ''Opostomias micripnis'', widely found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans and measuring about in adult length. These fish have a highly unusual and often almost nightmarish appearance. They all have teeth on the premaxilla and maxilla. Their maxillary ligaments, as well as some muscles and certain bones in the branchial cavity, are specialized in a distinctive way. Most have large mouths extending back past the eyes. Some also have a chin barbel. The dorsal and/or pectoral fins are missing in some, but others have an adipose fin. The pelvic fin has 4-9 rays, and the stomiiforms possess 5-24 branchiostegal rays. Their scales are cycloid, delicate and easily sloughed off; some are scaleless. The coloration is typically dark brown or black; a few (mostly Gonostomatoidei) are silver, and photophores (light-producing organs) are common in this order.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Stomiiformes」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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