Percoidei is a suborder of bony fishes in the order Perciformes. Many commercially harvested fish species are considered to be contained in this suborder, including the groupers, seabasses and perches.

Divisions

The following classification is based on Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes:

Suborder Percoidei

• Family Serranidae Swainson, 1839 (sea basses)

• Family Anthiadidae Poey, 1861 (fairy basslets or streamer basses)

• Family Epinephelidae Bleeker, 1874 (groupers)

Family Liopropomatidae Poey, 1867 (painted basslets)

• Subfamily Liopropomatinae Poey, 1867

• Subfamily Diploprioninae Bleeker, 1874

• Family Grammistidae Bleeker, 1857 (soapfishes)

Family Percidae Rafinesque, 1815 (perches and darters)

• Subfamily Percinae Rafinesque, 1815

• Subfamily Luciopercinae Jordan & Evermann, 1896

• Subfamily Etheostomatinae Agassiz, 1850

• Family Niphonidae Jordan, 1923 (Ara groupers)

• Family Trachinidae Rafinesque, 1815 (weeverfishes)

• Family Bembropidae Regan, 1913 (flatheads or duckbill flatheads)

The species in the family Grammistidae and the liopropomatid subfamily Diploprioninae secrete a mucus-like toxin in their skin called grammistin, and when they are confined in a restricted space and subjected to stress, the mucus produces a foam that is toxic to nearby fish. These fishes are often called soapfishes.

Former classification

Until recently, the Percoidei had a much more expanded treatment containing many different morphologically similar families. However, such a treatment is now known to be polyphyletic.

Suborder Percoidei

Percoidea

• Centropomidae (Snooks)

• Latidae (Lates)

• Gerreidae (Mojarras)

• Centrogenyidae (False scorpionfishes)

• Perciliidae (Southern basses)

• Howellidae (Oceanic basslets)

• Acropomatidae (Lanternbellies)

• Epigonidae (Deepwater cardinalfishes)

• Polyprionidae (Wreckfishes)

• Lateolabracidae (Asian seaperches)

• Mullidae (Goatfishes)

• Glaucosomatidae (Pearl perches)

• Pempheridae (Sweepers)

• Oplegnathidae (Knifejaws)

• Kuhliidae (Flagtails)

• Leptobramidae (Beachsalmon)

• Bathyclupeidae (Bathyclupeids)

• Polynemidae (Threadfins)

• Toxotidae (Archerfishes)

• Arripidae (Australasian salmon (kahawai))

• Dichistiidae (Galjoen fishes)

• Kyphosidae (Sea chubs)

• Terapontidae (grunters or tigerperches)

• Percichthyidae (temperate perches)

• Sinipercidae (Chinese perches)

• Enoplosidae (Oldwives)

• Pentacerotidae (Armourheads)

• Dinopercidae (Cavebasses)

• Banjosiidae (Banjofishes)

• Centrarchidae (Sunfishes)

• Serranidae (Sea basses)

• Percidae (Perches)

• Lactariidae (False trevallies)

• Dinolestidae (Long-finned pikes)

• Scombropidae (Gnomefishes)

• Pomatomidae (Bluefishes)

• Bramidae (Pomfrets)

• Caristiidae (Manefishes)

Possibly related to Acanthuriformes

• Monodactylidae (Moonfishes)

• Priacanthidae (Bigeyes (catalufas))

Seven families which may have a relationship to Acanthuroidei, Monodactylidae, and Priacanthidae

• Leiognathidae (Ponyfishes, slimys, or slipmouths)

• Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes)

• Pomacanthidae (Angelfishes)

• Malacanthidae (Tilefishes)

• Haemulidae (Grunts)

• Hapalogenyidae (Barbeled grunters)

• Lutjanidae (Snappers)

• Caesionidae (Fusiliers)

Superfamily Cirrhitoidea

• Cirrhitidae (Hawkfishes)

• Chironemidae (Kelpfishes)

• Aplodactylidae (Marblefishes)

• Cheilodactylidae (Morwongs)

• Latridae (Trumpeters)

Superfamily Cepoloidea

• Cepolidae (Bandfishes)

Superfamily Siganoidea

• Scatophagidae (Scats)

• Siganidae (Rabbitfishes)

incertae sedis

† Labrax

• † L. lepidotus

• † L. major

• † L. schizurus

• † L. vogdtii

References