Taxon Description (Wikipedia)
Osmeriformes is an order of ray-finned fish that includes the
true or freshwater smelts and allies, such as the galaxiids and noodlefishes; they are also collectively called
osmeriforms. They belong to the teleost superorder Protacanthopterygii, which also includes pike and salmon, among others. The order's name means "smelt-shaped", from
Osmerus (the type genus) + the standard fish order suffix "-formes". It ultimately derives from Ancient Greek
osmé (ὀσμή, "pungent smell") + Latin
forma ("external form"), the former in reference to the characteristic aroma of the flesh of
Osmerus.
In the classification used here, the order Osmeriformes contains 2 suborders, 6 families, some 20 genera and about 90 species. Other authors choose a...
full article at Wikipedia
