Acanthuriformes is a large, diverse order of mostly marine ray-finned fishes, part of the Percomorpha clade. In the past, members of this clade were placed in the suborders Acanthuroidea and Percoidea of the order Perciformes, but this treatment is now considered Paraphyly.
This order contains many of the iconic tropical reef fish groups, such as Acanthuridae, Pomacanthidae, butterflyfish, rabbitfish, Haemulidae, and Lutjanidae. It also contains widespread, economically important food and sport fishes, such as Sciaenidae, Moronidae, and Sparidae.
Classification
The following classification is based on Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes (2025):
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Order Acanthuriformes
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Family Mojarra Pieter Bleeker, 1859 (mojarras)
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Family Sillaginidae Richardson, 1846 (sillagos)
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Family Moronidae Jordan & Evermann, 1896 (temperate basses)
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Family Drepaneidae Gill, 1872 (sicklefishes)
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Family Ephippidae Bleeker, 1859 (spadefishes & batfishes)
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Family Sciaenidae Georges Cuvier, 1829 (croakers & drums)
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Family Dinopercidae Heemstra & Hecht, 1986 (cavebasses)
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Family Haemulidae Gill, 1885 (grunts)
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Family Lobotidae Gill, 1861 (Lobotes and tigerperches)
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Family Monodactylidae Jordan & Evermann, 1898 (moonies)
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Family Emmelichthyidae Felipe Poey, 1867 (rovers)
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Family Lutjanidae Gill, 1861 (snappers)
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Family Malacanthidae Poey, 1861 (Tilefish or sand tilefishes)
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Family Latilinae Gill, 1862 (deepwater tilefishes)
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Family Pomacanthidae Jordan & Evermann, 1898 (angelfishes)
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Family Butterflyfish Rafinesque, 1815 (butterflyfishes)
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Family Leiognathidae Gill, 1893 (ponyfishes or slipmouths)
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Family Luvaridae Gill, 1885 (louvar)
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Family Zanclidae Bleeker, 1876 (Moorish idols)
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Family Acanthuridae Bonaparte, 1835 (surgeonfishes & unicornfishes)
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Family Callanthiidae Ogilby, 1899 (splendid perches)
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Family Nemipteridae Regan, 1913 (threadfin breams and spinycheeks)
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Family Lethrinidae Bonaparte, 1831 (emperor snappers)
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Family Sparidae Rafinesque, 1818 (porgys and seabreams)
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Family Siganidae Richardson, 1837 (rabbitfishes)
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Family Scatophagidae Gill, 1883 (scats)
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Family Bandfish Rafinesque, 1815 (bandfishes)
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Family Priacanthidae Günther, 1859 (bigeyes)
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Family Caproidae Bonaparte, 1835 (boarfishes)
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Family Antigoniinae Jordan & Evermann, 1898 (deepwater boarfishes)
In the past, the rovers and drums were included within the suborder Sciaenoidei within the Acanthuriformes. However, this placement causes the group to be paraphyletic. Some authors have resolved this by placing the two families included in that suborder as incertae sedis in the Eupercaria,
Some authors also lump the Anglerfish and Tetraodontiformes within this group as the suborders Lophioidei and Tetraodontoidei. However, they are presently retained as distinct orders by taxonomic authorities.
Fossil taxa
The following extinct groups are also known:
