Jellynose fish: Order Ateleopodiformes

Jellynose fishes are also known as tadpole fishes.  In total there are only about 12 species in the order. In general it is rare to find a jellynose fish. They live in deep waters on the bottom of the ocean.

The common name for this group, the jellynose fishes, comes from the fact that most of fishes in this group have a high percentage of cartilage in their skeleton.  They are not related to the sharks and rays (Chondrichthyes), but are still true Teleost fishes.  Yet, this cartilage often gives them a jelly-like nose.    

Classification of Extant Species

The following list of species are grouped in the order Ateleopodiformes.

• Ateleopus indicus
• Ateleopus japonicus - Pacific Jelllynose
• Ateleopus natalensis
• Ateleopus purpureus
• Ateleopus tanabensis 
• Guentherus altivela - Highfin Tadpole fish
• Iijimaia antilarum
• Iijimaia dofleini
• Iijimaia fowleri
• Iijimaia loppei - Loppe's Tadpole Fish
• Iijimaia plicatellus - Deepwater Ateleopodid
• Parateleopus microstomus