Atheriniformes
| Silversides Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| Boeseman's rainbowfish, Melanotaenia boesemani, red variety | |
| Atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| (unranked): | Atherinomorpha |
| Order: | Atheriniformes D. E. Rosen, 1966 |
| Type species | |
| Atherina hepsetus Linnaeus, 1758 | |
| Suborders | |
The Atheriniformes, also known as the silversides, are an order of ray-finned fishes that includes the Old & New World silversides, the rainbowfishes, and several less-familiar families, including the unusual Phallostethidae. The order includes at least 354 species. They are found worldwide in tropical and temperate marine and freshwater environments.