Percoidei

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 Pallas 1810
      • † L. lepidotus Agassiz 1836
      • † L. major Agassiz 1836
      • † L. schizurus Agassiz 1835
      • † L. vogdtii Bogatshov 1942