FRITZSCHE: GASTEROSTEIFORMES 



399 



B 



"T-^Mcji.^ -,■<:,; -.-v.v? >»,'.c v>7.:- 



j*tf»i^ iJo^T-vsrrrr 



-■■*g 



Fig. 215. Larvae of some gasterosteoids. (A, B) Aulorhynchus flavidus. 8 mm TL and 23 mm TL (from Marliave, 1 976); (C) Apeltes quadracus. 

 6.0 mm TL (from Ryder, 1887); (D) Apeltes quadracus. 10.5 mm TL (from Hardy, 1978a). 



Family Hypoptychidae 

 Superfamily Gasterosteoidea 



Family Gasterostcidae 

 Suborder Syngnathoidei 

 Infraorder Syngnatha 

 Superfamily Pegasoidea 



Family Pegasidae 

 Superfamily Syngnathoidea 



Family Solenostomidae 



Family Syngnathidae 

 Infraorder Macrorhamphosa 

 Superfamily Macrorhamphosoidea 



Family Macrorhamphosidae 



Family Centriscidae 

 Superfamily Aulostomoidea 



Family Aulostomidae 



Family Fistulariidae 



The taxonomy within this order is poorly understood. The 

 lack of agreement regarding relationships within the Gasteros- 

 teiis aculeatus complex (Bell, 1976) and whether or not Macro- 

 rhamphosus contains only one species (Ehrich, 1 976) are two 

 examples. Recent studies, such as that of Fritzsche (1980), have 

 shown that many species of syngnalhids are morphologically 

 plastic. This plasticity has been the cause of a proliferation of 

 species and subspecies descriptions in the literature. The process 

 of sorting out the nominal species still continues for most taxa 

 included in Gasterosteiformes. 



Gasterosteiforms are found in freshwater, estuarine, and ma- 

 rine habitats through tropical and temperate regions. Most species 

 are relatively small and cryptically colored. They have no real 

 fishery importance and usually are thought of as interesting 

 aquarium fishes or simply curiosities, e.g. the seahorse. Since 

 commercial importance is lacking, there is very little literature 

 dealing with the early life histories of these fishes except for 



