Osteoglossomorpha

The Osteoglossomorpha are a group of bony fish in the Teleostei. A notable member is the arapaima (Arapaima gigas), the largest freshwater fish in South America and one of the largest bony fishes alive. Other notable members include the bizarre freshwater elephantfishes of family Mormyridae, and the extinct predator, Xiphactinus. Most osteoglossomorph lineages are extinct today. Only the somewhat diverse 'bone-tongues' (Osteoglossiformes) and two species of mooneyes (Hiodontiformes) remain. The Ichthyodectiform fishes from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods were once classified as osteoglossomorphs, but are now generally recognized as stem teleosts. Phylogeny based on the following works: