Name: in Greek means Bony tongues.
Synonym: Mormirimi; Mormyriformes; Scyphophori.
Genera: 245 species.
Region: South America, Africa, Australia, southern Asia.
ZoologyFish; toothed or bony tongues; the forward part of the gastrointestinal tract pass to the left of the oesophagus and stomach (for all other fish it passes to the right.
Size: considerable variation; 2 cm to 2.5 metres.
Habitat: freshwater; some are weakly electric fish able to sense their prey using electric fields.
TaxonomyThe mooneyes (Hiodontidae) are often classified here, but may also be placed in a separate order, Hiodontiformes.
FamiliesPantodontoidei
◦ Pantodontidae: Butterflyfish.
Osteoglossoidei
◦ Arapaimidae: Arapaima.
◦ Osteoglossidae: Arowana.
Notopteroidei
◦ Notopteridae: Featherfin knives.
◦ Gymnarchidae: Aba.
◦ Mormyridae: Elephantfishes.