Gadiformes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gadiformes |
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| Gadus morhua | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Superorder: | Paracanthopterygii |
| Order: | Gadiformes Goodrich, 1909 |
| Type species | |
| Gadus morhua Linnaeus 1758
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Gadiformes are a special group of fish that includes the well-known cod and its many relatives. You might also hear them called Anacanthini. Many of the fish we eat, like cod, are part of this group.
These fish live in oceans all around the world. Most of them prefer cooler or temperate waters. Some tropical species live in the deep parts of the ocean. A few types can swim into estuaries, which are places where rivers meet the sea. But only one kind, the burbot (Lota lota), lives in freshwater.
What Makes Gadiformes Special?
Gadiformes have some unique features. Their pelvic fins, which are like the back fins on a boat, are usually located under or in front of their pectoral fins (the side fins).
They are also "physoclist" fish. This means their swim bladder (a gas-filled organ that helps them float) does not have a special tube connecting it to their gut. Instead, they control the gas in their swim bladder using their blood.
All Gadiformes have fins without any hard, sharp spines. This is another way to tell them apart.
Size and Variety
This group of fish comes in many sizes. Some, like the tiny codlets, are only about 7 centimeters (about 3 inches) long when they are fully grown. On the other hand, the Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, can grow to be as long as 2 meters (about 6.5 feet)!
See also
In Spanish: Gadiformes para niños
