Gasterosteiformes

Gasterosteiformes is an order of ray-finned fishes that includes a number of familiar types, including the sticklebacks, pipefishes , and seahorses. There are about 260 species in 11 families.

In the gasterosteiforms, the Pelvis is never attached to the cleithra directly, and the supramaxillary , orbitosphenoid , and basisphenoid bones are absent. The body is often partly or completely covered with dermal plates .

The two suborders Gasterosteoidei and Syngnathoidei have also been ranked as two closely-related orders.

Reference

• J.S. Nelson , Fishes of the World