perciformes

from The Century Dictionary.

• In Günther's classification, a division of Acanthopterygii, having the body compressed, dorsal fin elongated and with the spinous larger than the soft portion, anal rather short, and ventrals generally with a spine and five rays.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun plural (Zoöl.) An extensive tribe or suborder of fishes, including the true perches (Percidæ); the pondfishes (Centrarchidæ); the sciænoids (Sciænidæ); the sparoids (Sparidæ); the serranoids (Serranidæ), and some other related families.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun one of the largest natural groups of fishes of both marine and fresh water: true perches; basses; tuna