Mudminnows and Pikes: Order Esociformes

The Esociformes is an order of Actinopterygiian fish that has two families, the mudminnows and pikes.  There are 5 species of pikes and 5 species of mudminnows.

This order is closely related the the Salmon (Salmoniformes).  Together they make up the superorder Protacanthopterygii.  The Esociformes first appeared in the mid-Cretaceous.  Today they are found only in the Northern Hemisphere of North America and Eurasia.