category: food/groceries: fish: saltwater fish

Synentognathi, Beloniformes

Synentognathi or beloniformes are a small order of fish. The medium-sized fish have a conspicuous prolonged mandible. Their dorsal, anal and pectoral fins lie farther back than in most other fish, in many Synentognathi in the last third of their body. Females attach their roe to drifting kelp.

Three families within the order of Synentognathi are:

• flying fish
• needlefish
• saury

Some sources place the abovementioned fish in the suborder of silversides (lat.: Atheriniformes).