Osteichthyes - Gasterosteiformes
Parent taxon: Teleostei according to H. L. Fierstine et al. 2012
See also Hay 1902, Long 2011, Nelson 2006, Sepkoski 2002 and Žalohar et al. 2009
Sister taxa: Acanthopteri, Acregoliath, Amphiuma nordica, Araripchthyiformes, Asiatolepis, Bathyclupeiformes, Catosteomi, Chongichthyidae, Chromides, Clupeocephala, Crossognathiformes, Discocephali, Dorsetichthyiformes, Elopocephalai, Elopomorpha, Euteleosteii, Gobioidea, Ichthyodectiformes, Jinanichthys, Jugulares, Leptolepidiformes, Leucichthyops, Longdeichthys, Luisiella, Lyopomi, Malacopteri, Opisthomi, Osteoglossocephalai, Osteoglossomorpha, Osteossomorpha, Paralycoptera, Pediculati, Percomorphacea, Pharyngognathi, Pholidophoriformes, Polymyxiomorpha, Scorpaeniformes, Sorbinicharacidae, Stephanoberyciformes, Symbranchia, Teleocephala, Teleosteorum, Todiltia, Tonghuaichthys, Tselfatiiformes, Xenopterygii, Ypsiloichthys
Subtaxa: Gasterorhamphosus Gasterosteoidei Nerophis Protorhamphosus Urosphenopsis
Ecology: nektonic carnivore